EIGHTH EDITION, CORRECTED, 
 
 CSXtt!) a large ant» interesting preface; 
 
 A FEW 
 
 CURSORY REMARKS. 
 
 UPON THE STATE 
 
 N 
 
 PARTIES, &c. Sep,
 
 A FEW 
 
 CURSORY REMARKS 
 
 UPON 
 
 THE STATE OF 
 
 PARTIES^ 
 
 DURING 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION 
 
 OF 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 HENRY ADDlNGtON. 
 
 BY A NEAR OBSERVER. 
 
 Prcdesse quam placere. 
 
 WITH A LARGE AND INTERESTING PREFACE, 
 
 y$1> a Sperribtv of tic late Itffc parliament. 
 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 rp.INTED EY J.MILLIKEN, 52, G RAF TON-STREET. 
 
 I8O3.
 
 TO THE 
 
 KIGIIT I-IONOU \ ' E 
 
 HENRY ADDINGTQN, 
 
 FIRST LORD COMMISSIONER OF THE 7REASU! 
 SlR, 
 
 IF your principal friends and 
 well-wifhers have reprefented your chara£sr 
 with as much truth as ability, and the portrait 
 they have exhibited be not a mere defi^n, with- 
 out refemblance to nature, you will not confi- 
 der every man as your enemy, who will not, 
 or cannot flatter you ; nor defpife, nor refent 
 any attempt to be of fervice becaufe it 'is free 
 from fervility. 
 
 You mud have obferved, Mr. Addington, in 
 the conduct of fome of your predeceffors, and 
 you have doubtlefs remembered to your own 
 advantage, how unprofitable and abfurd it is 
 to add infolence to power, and to think it a 
 part of greatnsfs to be hated. I understand that 
 
 a you
 
 VI 
 
 you are happier inycurdifpoiition, more manly 
 in your friendfhips, more generous in your 
 fentiments, and that to the franknefs and pro- 
 bity of your public character, you join the vir- 
 tues and the manners of elegant and domerlic 
 life. — May thefe good qualities of your nature, 
 Sir, be neither corrupted by honours and fuccefs, 
 nor foured by difappointment and ingratitude ! 
 
 The following reflections are intended with 
 much good-will to you and your adminiftration ; 
 but I am far from promifing that every page 
 fha.ll footh your vanity, or promote your wifhes, 
 or coincide with your opinions. I cannot be 
 your friend and your flatterer too. 
 
 I think, however, that thefe remarks will, 
 perhaps, do fome fervice ; otherwife, in the 
 prefent danger and inconvenience of our pub- 
 lic circumftances, I fhould not think it war- 
 rantable to interfere. 
 
 I have the Honour to be, 
 
 . SIR, 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 A NEAR OBSERVER. 
 
 London, Sep!. 5> 
 1803.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 A HAVE had the following Pamphlet re-printed 
 here, as it prefents a perfect delineation of the de- 
 fighs and the conduct of the political parties in Eng- 
 land, ever fince the beginning of the year 1801, when 
 his Majcfty's ministers refigned their fituations, at an 
 alarming and critical juncture, without aligning any 
 folid or satisfactory reafon for doing Co. Having no 
 connection with the pre fen t government of Ireland, 
 I declare, that my only object in doing this is, to 
 prevent my countrymen from being deluded by a 
 malignant faction in England, who, flung by difap- 
 pointed ambition, are endeavouring to agitate this 
 kingdom, by giving an exaggerated picture of its 
 difturbanctes, and by depreciating the character of its 
 governors, in order to promote their ultimate object 
 of ejecting the perfon's who now enjoy his Majefty's 
 confidence, that they may fucceed them. The em- 
 pire may be compared to a mip in a ftorm, in which 
 the failors, inflead of uniting for her fafety, are fplit 
 into parties, who are envioufly contending for the 
 fufive right of navigating her. Enraged and dis- 
 appointed at feeing that the prefent Adminiftration 
 mjoy the efteem and good opinion of the Engfiih 
 people, they hope that the unfortunate dilTentions of 
 
 a ?, Ireland,
 
 viii FREFACZ. 
 
 Ireland, too Jong the fport of faction in the Britifli 
 
 parliament, may forward their fmiiler purpof:~. 
 
 But I think it right to ring the alarm bell, and to 
 remind my countrymen, that Ireland was more agi- 
 tated by difturbances, and difgraced by crime?, 
 while under the government cf the prefent oppofi- 
 tion, than at any former period during the laft cen- 
 tury ; and any perfon acquainted with the hiftcry 
 of that period, muft perceive, that this arofe from 
 the inftability and ..fiRency of their councils. 
 
 As an engine to injure the prefent Administration 
 in the public ion, they employ a paper, con- 
 
 ducted by a man, lo naturally prone to turbulence 
 and fedition, iliit he was obliged to quit even Ame- 
 rica, on account of his frequent calumnies and (lan- 
 ders againit the ftate, though the liberty of the prefs 
 there degenerates into grofe licentioufnefs. 
 
 This furious drawcanfir, in his political Regifter 
 of the 27th of Augult, gave a relation of the events 
 which occurred in Dublin on the 23d of July, which 
 abounds with the groiTeft falfehoods, and is furcharged 
 with aggravations. He and his worthy employers 
 were furnifhed with fome of thefe miitatements, by 
 their hire d Jackalls of defamation in Dublin, and 
 they invented the remainder; but the public are 
 now fortunately undeceived, as all their lies and ca- 
 lumnies have been refuted and expofed. 
 
 A concife and candid ftatement of the occurrences 
 which took place that night, and of the tranfadtions 
 which preceded it, may not be unacceptable to the 
 public. 
 
 It
 
 PREFACE. ix 
 
 It is very well known, that the treafonabie prin- 
 ciples which produced the rebellion oF 1798, had 
 been fomented and dilTeminated ever fince that pe- 
 riod, with unccafmg fedulity and confiderable fuccefs ; 
 and no body can doubt, but that the general and 
 indifcriminate impunity which the difafTe&ed had 
 experienced from Lord Cornwallis, tended to en- 
 courage them. 
 
 For fome months preceding the 23d of July, the 
 Irifh government were apprized that fome perturbed 
 fpirits were diffeminating fedition, and forming plans 
 of infurre&ion, but they could not procure fuch in- 
 formation of it upon oath, as would enable them to 
 iffue warrants for arrefting them. They therefore 
 very wifely applied to the Engiifh government to 
 have the Habeas Corpus Act fufpended in Ireland. 
 Eut they hefitated to comply, from a laudable defire 
 of adhering to the drift orinciples of our very excel- 
 lent conftitution ; and the confidence with which 
 many Irifh members of Parliament, totally ignorant 
 of the real fiate of Ireland, reprefented the mafs of 
 its inhabitants to be zealoufly loyal, and as harbour- 
 ing a ftrong antipathy towards the French, from 
 their tyranny and rapacity in every country which 
 they had vifited, either as friends or enemies, con- 
 firmed the Imperial cabinet in their refolution. The 
 people of England vainly imagine that this kingdom 
 can be governed by the mild regimen of the Britifti 
 conftitution. 
 
 For fome days previous to the explofion of the 
 plot, on the 23d of July, government had received 
 
 information
 
 S PRLFACE. 
 
 information that an infurredlion was meditated} but 
 the difcoveries made to them were fo vague and con* 
 trauielory, that credulity itfelf could not attach any 
 belief to them, 'till Saturday morning, when Mr. 
 Marfden received fome communications which in- 
 duced him to think that meafures of precaution were 
 necefiary. He therefore wrote to the Commander in 
 Chief, on the morning of that day, to come to the 
 Caflie with the Viceroy, who was expected there on 
 bufmefs of importance; and he accordingly com- 
 plied. Mr, Marfden then, in the prefence of his 
 Excellency, communicated to General Fox the whole 
 of the intelligence which he had received, and fub- 
 mitted to him what meafures fhould be adopted for 
 the 'preservation of the metropolis. This flatement, 
 fo far, is univerfaliy admitted and never has been 
 contradicted. 
 
 Having no connection with the members'of the 
 government, I am unacquainted with the fec;ets of 
 the Cabinet ; but it is univerfaliy well known, that 
 they confulted and deliberated a long time, on the 
 information which had been received, and on the ex- 
 pediency of adopting ftrong meafures of prevention. 
 1 have been alfo allured, that his Excellency faid, 
 when General" r ox was on the point of retiring, For 
 God's fake, let every thing be done with as little 
 alarm as poflible ! 
 
 General Fox alleges, in his defence, that Mr. 
 Marfden faid he did not believe the information 
 which he had received of an intended infurrection. 
 This is a matter flill at ilfue, adhuc fub judice lis eft. 
 As I am well informed that the Viceroy and Mr. 
 
 Marfden
 
 PREFACE. xi 
 
 Marfden aflert the contrary, we can not hefitate on 
 what fide to preponderate. 
 
 A combination of circumfrances attending this 
 tranfaclion, furnifti the ftrongeft moral evide: , 
 that they are right, could v.e entertain a doubt of 
 what they allege. 
 
 Mr. Marfden proved by his conduct, that be was 
 far from totally disbelieving the communications 
 made to him; for though he had all the fummer 
 dined and ilept in the country, he remained that 
 and night at his pod in the Caftle. He reinforced 
 the Caftle guard, and ordered the troops fiatioried in 
 Effex-ftreet to be on the alert , which he did not with- 
 out hefitation, becaufe he feared that it might be con- 
 fidered as an officious intrufion on the province of 
 General Fox. Having left the difpofal of the mili- 
 tary to the Commander in Chief, he ordered the 
 officers of the police to ufe the utmoit vigilance 
 for the prefervation of the metropolis, and fent fre- 
 quent meflages to them for that purpofe. Lord Hsrd- 
 v/icke ordered a reinforcement to the guard at his re- 
 fidence in the Park, which evinced beyond contra- 
 diction, that he believed there was fome founda- 
 tion for the information v.hicji Government had re? 
 ceived. 
 
 Now it will appear that the"guards potted in dif- 
 ferent: parts of the town, particularly where the in- 
 £urrec~tion took place, were more than fufficient to 
 prevent it, had the Commander in Chief ordered 
 them to be on their arms, which might have been 
 cone in half an hour. There were Coo men in Ef- 
 fex-ftreet barrack, within i so raids of the feat of 
 government. One at the Caftle, to which Mr. 
 
 Marfden
 
 *ii PREFACE. 
 
 Marfden had ordered a reinforcement between 8 and 
 9 o'clock. There were alfo guards at James's-ftreef, 
 the Coombe, Cork-ftreet, at each of the gaols, the 
 Bank, Kilmainham-Hofpital ; and the body of mi- 
 litary ftationed at the barrack could not have been 
 lets than 3000 ; but why General Fox did not order 
 any portion of them to repair to thofe places where 
 the infurrecYion took place, till it was completely- 
 put down, never has been explained. Nobody can 
 doubt of the malignant intentions of the confpira- 
 tors, and that they meant to have taken poifellion of 
 the metropolis; but their very feeble exertions to 
 aecomplifh it, and the facility with which they were 
 difcomfited and difperfed, unqueftionably prove, 
 that they would not have dared to rife, had the dif- 
 ferent guards which I have mentioned been on their 
 arms. The infurgents were difperfed in about a 
 quarter of an hour, and peace was perfectly reftored 
 in one hour at fartheft, by a few foldiers of the 21ft 
 regiment polled at the Coombe, fome of the Liberty 
 Rangers, and two fmall parties of the police, one 
 under Mr. Wilfon, the other under Lieutenants 
 Coultman and Brady. 
 
 Major Swan arrived at the fcene of action, with 
 a party of the Caftle guard, in about three quarters 
 of an hour after ; but why no part of the garrifon 
 at the Barrack appeared there till about three hours 
 after the infurgents had been completely difperfed, 
 remains to be accounted for. The Barrack is fo near 
 the place where the infurrecYion took place, that every 
 mot which was fired was heard there, and fome gen- 
 tlemen who had gone to the barrack, to alarm the 
 garrifon, allured me, that the foldiers exprcffed the 
 
 moft
 
 PREFACE. xiii 
 
 mofl earned: defire to he led againft the infurgcnts. 
 It is very fortunate that their ardour was reftrained, 
 becaufe it might have occafioned an indifcriminate 
 (laughter; but had a large detachment of them been 
 pofted in the Liberty, as a meafure of prevention, 
 the infurrecYion never would have taken place. 
 
 I fliall now make a few obfervations on the con- 
 duct of that party in England, who have endea- 
 voured to injure his Majefty's minifters, by falfely 
 imputing the difientions and difturbances of Ireland 
 to the erroneous conduct and the fupine neglect of 
 its government. 
 
 It will appear by this pamphlet, that their refig- 
 nation took place at an alarming juncture, and that 
 it left his Majefty in fo critical and diftrefsful a 
 fituation, that it was likely to excite univerfal de- 
 spondency. 
 
 Mr. Addington was called upon by the King to 
 prefide over the councils of the nation, but he hefi- 
 tated to do fo, till the members of the former admi- 
 niftration promifed to fupport him, which they did in 
 the moft unequivocal manner. 
 
 They did not defert their Situations till they had 
 defpaired of the fafety of Great Britain, and until 
 they faw her abandoned by all her allies, and as they 
 thought, bereft of internal refources to continue 
 the war. 
 
 Mr. Addington, routed by pafriotifm, and feeling 
 for the woeful fituation to which cv.: beloved Sove- 
 
 b i eign
 
 xiv PREFACE. 
 
 reign was reduced, by the fudden defcriion of rnu 
 niilers who had ferved him fo many years, and had 
 been the peculiar object of his efteem, entered upon 
 a fituation which was by no means enviable. 
 
 By their friendly affurances of fupporting him, 
 they only intended to lull his fears, left he lhould 
 fhrink from perils, the contemplation of which had 
 occafioned their fudden retreat. 
 
 It has fmce appeared, that their friendly promifes 
 were but delufive, that they meant to make him 
 the fcape-goat of the dangers which hung over the 
 nation, and that when the itorm which was ready to 
 burfl over his head had driven him from the helm, 
 they intended to grafp at it, as foon as the clouds 
 .were difoerfed and a perfect calm had enfued. 
 
 For when they found that the good fenfe and inte- 
 grity of Mr. Addington, had endeared him to the 
 people of England, and that he had acquired the 
 confidence of the monied men, they maligned him 
 and abufed his meafures, for the purpofe of ejecting 
 him from the fituation which they had tempted him 
 to fill. Their defigns are well delineated by one of 
 our molt eminent poets : 
 
 <c In friendfnip falfe, implacable in hate> 
 ?' Refolved to ruin or to rule the {late." 
 
 It fortunately turns out, that all their finifter attempts 
 have only expofed them, in proportion as they 
 have tended to exalt Mr. Addington in the eyes 
 of the Briiifh nation ; and their cunning, which Lo;d 
 Eacon calls a fimficr or crocked wifdom^ has completely 
 defeated itfelf j- and as Shakesfpeare fays, " The 
 
 very
 
 PREFACE. xv 
 
 very fubflance of their ambition is but the fhacluw 
 of a dream." 
 
 The general odium which their fudden and unac- 
 countable defertion drew on them, was very much 
 aggravated by their excufe to palliate it, as it was in 
 itfrif highly criminal, viz. That his Majefty would 
 not give his aiEent to put the proteitents and papifts 
 of the empire on a ftate of perfect equality. 
 
 Great Britain furTered 10 much, and at fo early a 
 period, from the avarice and ambition of the popes, 
 and by that difarTecYion to the ftate, which is infe- 
 parable from the tenets of popery, that laws, making 
 it highly criminal in any fubject to acknowledge the 
 papal iupremacy, were enacted^ in the reigns of 
 Hdw. 1. Edw. III. and Rich. II. It occasioned fuch 
 calamities in the 16th and 17 th centuries, that fevere 
 ]>> nal laws were enacted, and vigorous mea(ures were 
 adopted for its total extinguishment. James II. loft: 
 his crown for endeavouring to violate thbfe laws, and 
 for attempting to introduce perfons of that commu- 
 nion, and even popifh prieils, into the confidential 
 departments of the ftate. Ronquillo, the SpanifU 
 amnaflador feeing this, and that James was entirely 
 governed by his confefTor, warned him againfjt af- 
 ienfing to any thing which he mould recommend; 
 for at that time the profperity of Spain depended 
 in a great meafure on that of England; and he fore- 
 faw the misfortunes which were likely to arife in the 
 latter, if James embraced and followed the opinions 
 of his gboitiy advi^rs. O.j this James afked him, 
 whether the Spanifh rrjprjacc-b did not confuk his 
 'nfefTur. To this Ronquillo anfwered in the ailk- 
 
 b z m.uive,
 
 XVI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 mative, and added, " That is the reafon that our 
 affairs are fo badly conducted. " 
 
 Sir Robert Cotton in his Abridgement, page 196, 
 fells us, that in the reign of Rich. II. A. D. 1399, 
 the privy council were fo much alarmed at the influ- 
 ence of priefts, in perverting the moral and poli- 
 tical principles of the king, that, in the prefence of 
 that monarch, they ordered his confefifor not to come 
 into the court, but on the four principal feftivals. 
 William III. and George I. were placed on the 
 throne of England, for the exprefs purpofe, and on 
 condition, that they would maintain the proteftant 
 religion as by law eftabliflied, and prevent the evils 
 formerly cccafioned by popery. Ail the friends of 
 the conftitution were amazed that the king's minif- 
 ters would recommend fuch a meafure to his Majefty, 
 which was in direct violation of his coronation oath; 
 and the more fo, as Mr. Pitt had previoufly con- 
 demned it with great ftrength of argument. 
 
 On the 2d of March, 1790, Mr. Pox moved for 
 a repeal of the corporation and teft laws ; and Mr. 
 Pitt faid in reply : " The point at iffue plainly was, 
 whether the houfe fhould or mould not, at once. 
 relinquifh thofe ads which had, by the wifdorn of 
 our anceftors, ferved as a bulwark to the church, 
 the conititution of which was fo much connected 
 and interwoven with the interefts and prefervatioh 
 of the coniVitution of the ftate, that the former 
 could not be endangered, without hazarding the 
 fafetyof the latter. The Right Hon. Gentleman's 
 principles went, not only to the admittance of 
 
 " Roman
 
 u 
 If 
 
 u 
 
 4C 
 *C 
 
 (C 
 
 PREFACE. *vii 
 
 " Roman catholics, but of papiits, properly fo 
 called (and he obferved there vvas no material dis- 
 tinction between the two) the latter acknowledging 
 the fupremacy of a foreign, though an ecclfiaftical 
 prince, who, according to the Right Hon. Gentle- 
 man, with all the odious, dangerous, and deteflable 
 principles which belonged to his church, ought not to 
 " be kept out of the mofl important official fituations, 
 " before the commiffion of fome overt- act againft 
 * ; the conftitution, manifefted by force of arms in 
 4t the open field j by which the policy of prevention 
 would be done away, and a dangerous door opened 
 to the abfolute ruin of the conftitution." 
 
 " The teft and corporation laws, he faid, had 
 been wifely adopted to fecure the conftitution, and 
 had it not been for them, the family of Stuart 
 might have been at this day in pofTefiion of the 
 throne, and the Right Hon. Gentleman not have 
 had an opportunity to ftate thofe opinions in the 
 houfe, which they had that day heard." 
 
 it 
 
 u 
 
 u 
 <( 
 
 M 
 
 The public were filled with amazement and alarm 
 at feeing this great ftatefman, whofe former conduct 
 had been noted for firmnefs and confiitency, adopt 
 and avow principles which ten years before he had 
 condemned, as odious, dangerous, and detcjl 'able, and 
 that he fhould thus wifh to open a deer for the abfohtc 
 ruin of the conftitution; particularly as in the'interven- 
 ing time, the horrid Irifh rebellion, preceded by a 
 confpiracy of eight 'years, and formed for the a 
 lute ruin of the CWlfiituuori had occurred. 

 
 Xviii PREFACE. 
 
 For iik^ a fhifted wind unto a fail, 
 
 It makes the courfe of thoughts to fetch about, 
 
 Startles and frights confideration, 
 
 Makes found opinion link, and truth fufpedled, 
 
 For putting on fo new a fafhioned robe. 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 It fhould be recollected alfo, that in the year 1795, 
 this meafure Wis condemned by the Britifh cabinet, 
 as fubverfive of the conititution, and that Lord 
 Fitzwiliiam was recalled for having attempted to 
 carry it in the Irifh parliament. It mould not be 
 forgotten alfo, that the mafs of the Irifh papifts 
 fhewed a decided hoftility to our gracious Sovereign 
 and his government, though the bulk of the penal 
 laws were repealed in his reign ; and though the 
 Pope had been at that time his friend and ally, and 
 was perfectly independent of France. 
 
 But when this lingular Arid alarming innovation 
 was propofed, the Pope was a mere engine in the 
 hands of Bonaparte, and was then, and is now com- 
 pelled, to exert that influence, which is infeparable 
 from his fupremacy, among his fectaries in Ireland, 
 to fecotul the dcrigns of the French tyrant. 
 
 To this hour, no plaufible reafon has been af- 
 figned to excufe, or even to palliate this extraordi- 
 nary dereliction of principle. The defign of making 
 this important change in the national religion, which 
 at one blow levelled to the ground thofe barrier: 
 which the wifdom of the legiflature had been 
 forming for the protection of the conititution, againfc 
 the inordinate ambition and avarice of the Popes, for 
 
 above
 
 PREFACE. xH 
 
 above fix hundred years, was planned with great 
 fecrecy. 
 
 The great length of the Premier's adminiftration, 
 and the immenfe patronage which he had at his de- 
 votion, attached to him fo many partizans, not only 
 in the cabinet and parliament, but in every rank of 
 life, that he anticipated fuccefs ; but the confeientt- 
 ous adherence of the King to his coronation oath, 
 which oath was framed with great wifdom and fore- 
 fight, as the only poffible expedient to prevent the 
 evil which was now meditated, faved the conftitution 
 from deftrucYion, 
 
 The following reafon has been afligned for his per- 
 tinacity in refigning his "flotation, fooner than aban- 
 don this meafure, and it has not been contradicted. 
 
 When in the meridian of power, he gave the moft 
 folemn aflurance that he would carry it into effect, to 
 the G. party who had afforded him, unremittingly, a 
 powerful fupport in both houfes of parliament, and 
 a female, who is much prieft-ridden, has a complete 
 afcendancy over that party : Dux fanina fafti. 
 
 To leave the rejection of it to reft folely on the 
 king, was highly imprudent, and in fome degree a vio- 
 lation of the conftitution, as eftablifhed for above a 
 century ; for one of its beft principles is univerfally 
 allowed to be, that no refponfibility fhall be attached 
 to our Sovereign for any meafure whatsoever. The 
 general alarm, and the electric mock, which a fnniiar 
 attempt made by James II. occafioned throughout the 
 Britifh nation, compared to the torpor with which 
 
 the
 
 *x PREFACE. 
 
 the recent defign of the minifter was regarded, 
 proves a great laxity and declenfion of religious 
 principle. 
 
 The intemperate zeal which has been manifefted to 
 accomplifli this innovation, and the various and un- 
 remitting endeavours which have been ufed, to varnifh 
 over the horrors of the two laft Irifh rebellions, and 
 the treaibnable confpiracies which preceded them, 
 remind me of an obfervation made by a member of 
 the Irifh Parliament, in 1641, while the rebellion of 
 that period continued to rage ; an obfervation which 
 is applicable to the prefent time, " 'That he did not 
 know, but that was the feafon wherein they were cajl on 
 their trial, whether allegiance or rebellion, God or the 
 Pope would be owned. 
 
 The wifdom, the firmnefs and moderation of 
 Lord Hardwicke's adminiftration, have attached the 
 people of Ireland fo ftrongly to it, that it is hoped 
 the defigns of a faction in a neighbouring king- 
 dom to difturb its peace, or to leflen their con- 
 fidence in his Excellency, will prove abortive. 
 
 The univerfal concern which took place here laft 
 fummer, at a report that his Excellency was to be 
 recalled, unqueftionably proves, how much he has 
 endeared himfelf to the Irifh nation. 
 
 a few
 
 A FEW 
 
 CURSORY REMARKS, 
 
 &C. &L\ 
 
 s««W^S8$RR?!&fc« 
 
 
 I HE furpvife and corifternatton with which the public 
 received intelligence of the fefignation of his Majefty's late 
 Mieifters in February 1801, are not yet forgotten. The 
 Hate of the country at that time, and in confequence of 
 that event, forms one of the moll extraordinary and me- 
 morable epochas of itshiftory. 
 
 . Fatigued, difcouraged, and almofi exhaufled with the 
 efforts, events, and burthens, of nine years of the revolu- 
 tionary war, it was in vain that the nation endeavoured 
 with draining eyes to gather a ray of hope iri that Vafl ho- 
 rizon where the Sun of Peace feemed fet for ever. The 
 fiafhes of victory itfelf threw but a trembling, and meteor 
 light, too feeble to pierce the darknefs that feemed to brood 
 over Europe. 
 
 . Deferted by every ally (but fuch as were our burthen and 
 our weaknefs) we had fcen the fubjugation of the beft half 
 of the Continent ratified at Luneville. The ftrength, the 
 fpirit, and the character of the Houfe of Auflria were 
 fubJued and broken; and its mutilated power removed as 
 it were by the fabulous fpell of an enchanter, from the 
 banks of the Scheldt and Rhine, to the diftant fhores of 
 the Adriatic. The German Empire, a fnapelefs and ina- 
 nimate mafc, already rnulcled and amerced of lome of its 
 faireft principalities, awaited the confummation ot its fate 
 
 at Ratifbon, in the fjlenee of defpair; while the King of 
 Pruffia, without a body of nobility, of prelates, or of ma- 
 giftratet-, and appearing only to command his corrupted 
 generals, and jacobin court, was glad to be bribed into a 
 
 £ f'.i\e:n
 
 fyftem which he had neither the courage nor the power to 
 refift. So much wifer is it in the prefent constitution of 
 the world, to leem treacherous, ambitious, profligate, 
 any thing — than weak. 
 
 Ruffia r whofe gallant armies had fo lately combated, at 
 our lide, under the influence of her unhappy Czar, and of 
 the more infane and deranged fpirit of commercial avarice 
 and fraud, now appeared againft us at the head of a mighty 
 confederation in the north;, Britifh blood had flamed the 
 channel, and the quarrel had been compromifed without 
 fatisfaciion or atonement by an evafive and difgraceful con- 
 vention, figned at Copenhagen in prefence of our fleet ! 
 
 The reft of the Continent was France — Spain, Italy, 
 Piedmont, Swifierland, the courfes of the Lower Rhine 
 into the ocean, the Seven United Provinces, the Low 
 Countries were abiorbed. By treaty or by terror, by in- 
 fluence or by force, they had become members and depart- 
 ments of the great nation ; their fhips, their foldiers, their 
 commerce, and their revenues, were at her difpofal; and 
 a. power fo enormous as was never yet concentrated by any 
 league or confederation of independent fovereigns and ftates, 
 was now amafied and converged in a (ingle arm; flufhed 
 with victory, goaded by disappointments, and directed by 
 rancour and ambition againft the fhores of Great Britain, 
 ^hat part of the civilized world was there not in arms 
 againft us, or preparing to arm, when the late miniftera 
 gave in their refignation ? 
 
 Was our domeftic ftate more happy or ferene, and our 
 internal pofition more fmooth and favourable for the re- 
 treat of minrfters, weary, no doubt, of the fatigues of of- 
 fice, and cloyed with the duration of their power ? I throw 
 a veil over the malady of our beloved Sovereign, who 
 never gave pain to his fubjects but when they trembled for 
 his life. But the future hiftorian of this eventful era will 
 make it his care to dwell upon a calamity which height- 
 ened every terror in our circumftance, and more than re- 
 doubled every other calamity. The artifices of party, and 
 
 the
 
 
 unhappy fuccefs of fo many expenfive expeditions, had en- 
 tirely difcouraged and indiipofed the country towards of- 
 fenfive operations; and the unfortunate orders which had 
 caufed the violation of the Treaty of Al-Erifch, and (at 
 the expence of the matfacre of the Turkifh army) detained 
 the conquerors of Egypt in that important province, had 
 created the higheft diftruft and diftatisfaction as to the con- 
 duel of the war, and the capacity of the perfons entrufted 
 with it. The war itfelf, too, of which the true nature 
 and character, had been early mifcaken*, and of which 
 the principle and objects had fo repeatedly appeared to 
 change, had now grown unpopular and hopelefs; witnefs 
 the fingle difappointment received at Ferro], which caufed 
 more difcontent and defpondency than, at earlier periods 
 of the war, had arifen from all our miftakes and misfor- 
 tunes in St. Domingo, Corlica, Quiberon, and North- 
 Holland. An expedition, indeed, was prepared to retrieve 
 our mafler-error in Egypt, and a fleet to affift our negotia- 
 tions with the Northern Powers: but in defcribing the 
 period I have undertaken, it were unjuft to diiTemble, that 
 no minifter could have been fanguine enough.to expect their 
 fuccefs. In the Baltic, a fleet had already appeared under 
 the command of Admiral Dickfon, to fupport a demand 
 of fatisfaclion for the injury we had received in our own 
 feas, from a Danifh frigate (the Freya). That gallant Ad- 
 nr/iral however had rro orders which could lave him the 
 pain of witneffing, and Lard Whitworth no infh'.u6iions 
 which could fpare him .the neceffity of figning a treaty of 
 Adjournment, at the expence of fome implied and virtual 
 admiffions -f-j which, in happier times, could never have 
 been extorted from a Britifh Cabinet. As to the recovery 
 of Egypt, even now that it has p leafed Providence to blefs 
 the valour of his Majc fly's arms with fuch glorious fuccefs, 
 it is impoflible to deny the great inadequacy, fhall I fay ? 
 or the total incompetency of that expedition to its object ; 
 
 B z or 
 
 .* At Valenciennes and Dunkirk. 
 + St» the Convention of Cofenhaj:en, i3oc.
 
 or to think that it deferved or could have be^n crowned 
 with viclory, according to human computation and proba- 
 bility*. Thefe rcmaiks are not voluntary, much lefs de- 
 figned to mortify the vanity of any R ' ^ -fi^ an, or to defeat 
 the political poft-litniniurn, by which the late Government 
 now claims to enter upon the merit of that moft happy and 
 ffupendous fervice; but it is impoflible to defcrjbe with 
 fidelity the period in queftion, without recording the truth 
 of circumftances, and the juft opinion and apprebenfions 
 of the time. I entertain great refpecl for the noble Lord, 
 who was the author of the expedition; but I hope he will 
 allow me, without offence, to fay, with good Captain 
 riuellcn-— Ci Upon my conscience, God Almighty did us , 
 fome fervice." 
 
 In this complicated predicament of evil and defpondency, 
 with every part of Europe hoflile to our interefls, and pre- 
 paring to annoy us; without adiftincr. end or remaining ob- 
 ject in the war; our expeditions hopelefs; our burthens pref- 
 iing and fevere; our enemy flufhed with infolence and fuc- 
 cefs, and galled by recent infults and repulfe ; our Sove- 
 reign indifpofed and incapable of adminiitering the affairs 
 of his government; what hope or faint fpeculation of peace 
 remained, what part of our affairs appeared retrievable? 
 Do I overcharge or cliftort the picture ? I appeal to the 
 memory of all the country, who am myfelf a witnefs of 
 its Situation and its defpair ! 
 
 It was at fuch a moment, that his Majefty's late Minif- 
 tersf thought proper to retire from his fervice; and that 
 he was gracioufly pleafed to call Mr. Addington to his 
 councils. The melancholy event, and the period of doubt, 
 difficulty, and danger, which intervened before this and 
 the other arrangements could be completed, are too pain- 
 ful, and too frefh in the memory for it to be neceffary to 
 
 relate. 
 
 * Vide Memoirs of the Egyptian Expedition, by Sir Robert Wilfon. 
 
 ■j- Me(TYs. Pitt, Windham, and Dundas; the Lord* Grinville, 
 (Spencer, and (after what his Court, I believe, calls, technically, an In- 
 TtRtocuTORY or tin:) the Lord Chancellor Rosslyn.
 
 5 
 
 relate. It was only upon his Majcfty's moft happy and 
 brovidential recovery, that the nation could clearly know 
 who were his fervants. 
 
 It quickly appeared, however, that the bed under- 
 ftanding prevailed between die feceders and their fucceftbrs, 
 who were indeed reproached with it as a weaknefs and a 
 crime; but as the country dreaded nothing (o much as fal- 
 ling under the conduct of MefTrs. Fox, Grey, and the 
 ■oarty of the Gpp cfition, it derived confolation from the 
 mnegyric of the new Minifters pronounced by Mr. Pitt, 
 in the Houfe of Commons; and from the certainty of their 
 being firmly fupported by all the zeal, influence, and abi- 
 lity of their predeceflbrs. 
 
 The public felt all the hazard and difficulty of their fitu- 
 ation ; and the courage and felf-devotednefs with which 
 they had fucceeded to the pofts of danger, were the topics 
 of admiration and applaufe. As yet no ambition had dif- 
 covered itfelf bold enough to envy a fituation, which cer- 
 tainly was not a bed of rofes, and honours which promifed 
 to wither before their bloom. The very character which 
 was drawn of Mr. Addington and his colleagues, by the 
 mailer] y hand of Mr. Pitt, was in no inflance fo worthy 
 of remark and approbation, as in the ftrong virtual con- 
 feffion it involved, of the difficulties and dangers of the 
 fituation in which he had left the govenime.it ; and the 
 filent reproaches he was indireclly admitting, in the cafe 
 that he could be fuppofed to have been capable of retir- 
 ing at fuch a moment, without a perfect confidence and 
 fatisfaction, that the King had been able to fuppjy his place 
 with a fit and fufficient government. Yet we fhall foon 
 jind a very different picture, both of the Minifters and the 
 ftate of the country, exhibited in the Houfe of Commons, 
 by the bofom friend of the right honourable gentleman. 
 
 If the private character of the new government, and 
 the great facrificc of cafe, fecurity, and permanent dignity 
 which the principal perfori had not hefitated to make, ex- 
 empted them from fufpicion of vanity or ambition, in the 
 
 affumption
 
 aHumption of ftations of fo much refponfibility j yet a$> 
 
 Minifters their ability was untried. The refignations had 
 
 taken the nation by furprife, and a general fentiment o£ 
 
 doubt and defpondency prevailed. So long accuftomed to 
 
 look up to Mr. Pitt, they thought that Troy could be 
 
 defended by no other arm. It was true, indeed, that his 
 
 popularity had materially fufFered by abandoning the reins 
 
 of government in fo queftionable a manner at fo terrible a 
 
 crifis; but pofterity will judge what muft have been the 
 
 attachment and affection of the country for that Minifter^ 
 
 what its opinion of his talents and his virtues (while they 
 
 were entire,) fince indignant as it was at his retreat, it ftill 
 
 regarded his advice as the belt hope of the flate, and the 
 
 new Minifters as firm and fecure behind the ruins of his 
 
 reputation ! 
 
 Quanta — Roma fuit ipfa ruinadocet. 
 
 It could not however happen that this friendfhip and 
 Support fhould be entirely advantageous without any alloy 
 or diminution. The party of the Old Oppofition had 
 taken occafion to treat the government with affected pity 
 and contempt, as the mere creatures or fubftitutes of their 
 predeceffors ; they pretended to confider the adminiftration 
 as in commifiion ; and, as far as can be collected from 
 their conduct, they had in truth fo little opinion of its 
 liability, as to refolve upon giving it a temporary fupport 
 and afliftance, Tather than prefs it too faft, and before 
 they were ready to profit of it, to its inevitable diflblution. 
 Under thefe aufpices, did the King's fervants return to 
 Parliament from their elections. They had the confidence 
 of their Sovereign^ — the extreme good will and approba- 
 tion of the public, but deprefled by confiderable anxiety 
 and doubts of their fufliciency — the fupport of the refign- 
 ers— and their own weaknefs to defend them. 
 
 Ot their own motive^ condu6l, and principle, it is necef- 
 fary to fay a few, and but a very few words. They had not 
 coveted their employment?, they had not intrigued for them, 
 they had not obtained them by parliamentary or popular 
 
 arts.
 
 arts. Their Sovereign, in a crifis of extreme exigency and 
 danger, had claimed their fervices, and they knew their duty. 
 But in obeying the commands of their mafter, they had 
 felt and were deeply penetrated -with the impofiibility of 
 fervinghim and their country in the great neceffity of th c 
 time, if that vaft mafs of talents, information, and influ- 
 ence, over which Mr. Pitt and Lord Grenville prefided, 
 were not only fuddenly withdrawn from the fupport of his 
 majefty's government, but converted into an oppofing, ©r 
 even a neutral force. Whatever may be the difficulty and 
 the delicacy, (for they are extreme) of the point I am 
 treating, I think it indifpenfable to fpeak with courage 
 and with perfpicuity ; and I challenge the illuftrious per- 
 fons I havejuft named to controvert the fact or the fpirit 
 of a ftatement, which it is important to the prefent, and to 
 future ages, to place beyond controverfy and difpute. I 
 mult take upon me, therefore, to aver, that his Majefty's 
 moft gracious offer of his confidence to Mr. Addington* 
 could not have been, and was not definitely accepted, 
 until a folemn authentic pledge of honour had been given 
 by the late Minifters, for their cc constant, active, 
 and zealous su pport." I do aflferc that Mr. Pitt and 
 LoTd Grenville * did facredly and folemnly enter into 
 this exaR engagement, and in this frecife form of words.— ~ 
 You think with Hamlet, the lady promifes too much ! Oh ! 
 but fhe'll keep her word !" 
 
 It muft not be concealed,, however, that even at this 
 very moment of inauguration, the public might have dif~ 
 covered fome germs and feeds of future difference and dif- 
 fention. There was fomething in the very promife of fup- 
 port, and in the character of the parties, which, to a 
 near obferver, looked like an implied condition that this 
 fupport fhouldnrtw ceafeto bs necejfary 3 and that minifters 
 
 fhould. 
 
 * Lord Grenville Iia» been reminded of this promife more than on:- !>* 
 the Lords Pelham and Hobart — but his Lordfliip 
 
 ■ i i leviter curare videtc? 
 
 Quo prair.ifa caduntct fomaia Pyt'iagorxa.
 
 & 
 
 fhould never attempt to ftandupon their own ground, and 
 their own merits. Thofeatleaft, who could beft decypher 
 political characters, made ufe of this key; by which, re- 
 ducing the mysterious contract into vulgar letters, they read 
 plainly that the Miniflers would be fuppcrted by their pre- 
 deceilbrs, jufl as long as they could be confidered as weak, 
 incapable, and deciduous — as long as they could be hourly 
 difplaced they would be Hourly upheld and aiTifled; but if 
 they fhould attempt to walk without the leading firing— = 
 if they fhould have the prefumption to appear qualified 
 for their offices, or to be fuccefsful in any of their meafures 
 —if they flrould dare to be firm, prudent, virtuous, or for- 
 tunate, or to lay any claim to any merit, or attempt by 
 any means to procure the efleem or confidence of the coun- 
 try, then thefe acts fhould cancel the agreement, as con- 
 trary to its fpirit and true meaning, and they fhould in- 
 itantly be treated as rivals and enemies ! 
 
 The Houfe of Commons, I think, at this time, muft 
 be divided into four or five parties. The Minifters were as 
 yet untried, and had taken their ground with lingular mo- 
 deity, appealing only to the future opinion of the public 
 upon the meafures they fhould purfue, and defiring to be 
 judged of by their actions. The Old Oppofition, though 
 bent upon peace, or pacific demonftrations, was now evi- 
 dently neither unanimous in principle nor united in tac- 
 tics. Meffrs. Windham, Grenville, and their followers, 
 were adverfe to peace altogether — Mr. Pitt himfelfan hofl> 
 fupportcd Minifters openly, and perhaps ofhcioufly— Mr. 
 Pitt's friends, without the trouble of a public principle, or 
 rule of conducl, were continually employed in decrying 
 and discrediting the meafures of Minifters, fnecring at 
 their perfons, and foreboding their difmiffion. 
 
 In this corner of the Houfe, one continually heard, 
 in loud whifpers, of their incapacity and prefumption in 
 having taken their fituations, while, from another bench, they 
 were openly branded as the mere puppets and fubflitutes of 
 the perfons to whom they had prefumtd to fi.cceed. 
 
 It
 
 9 
 
 It appeared as If the friends of the e:;-miniftry would 
 have liked better to have left his Majefty altogether with- 
 out a cabinet, and that for for.ie reafon or other, they 
 would have preferred to fee the kingdom ungoverned, and 
 the King's fides naked in the anarchy. A painful obfeu- 
 rity hung over the motives of the resignations ; the caufes af- 
 hgned were fo far from obtaining credit with the public, and 
 were fo inadequate to the effect, that a noble Lord, connec- 
 ted with both ad in iirff. rations, and whofe principal charac- 
 teristic and device are political prudence, had not fcruplcd 
 to treat of them as " myfterious/' and the temerity of vul- 
 gar irrefponiible judgments, proceeding upon the hint, had 
 unequivocally afoibed them to defpondency and appre- 
 henlion. 
 
 'When they heard the friends of a miniftry, whofe retreat 
 they attributed to defpair, accufe the perfons of prefump- 
 Hon, who had the courage to aflume the guidance of affairs 
 in their place, the public inferred that it mull be prefump- 
 tion and audacity to entertain the leaft hope of faving the 
 country, for they did not believe that things had of late 
 been fo wifely, or fo profperoufly conducted, as to render 
 it prefumptuous in any fet of miniiters to hope they 
 fhould be able to conduct thebufmefs of government with 
 equal prudence, economy* or fuccefe- 
 
 Had this fentiment been confined to thefe kingdoms* 
 perhaps, the miniflers might have found no great difficulty 
 in recovering the people from its effects. But unfortu- 
 nately the fame motives were attributed abroad to the con- 
 duel of their predeceffors, whofe retreat wai confidered, 
 both by the government of France and the neutral powers 
 of the Continent, as a virtual confeiiion of the inability 
 of the country to per lift in the war, fo that they had the 
 misfortune to retire, and the new fervants ot the Crown 
 to fucceed, under the imputation that the former porTerled 
 no ability of making peace, and the latter no means of con- 
 tinuing the war*. Under thefe fatal imprellions of thepub- 
 
 c lie 
 
 * It was even believed that the late minifters had been long divided upoa 
 this noiat, an opiaioa which fubl'eoueat cveats appear tg have juftificd.
 
 10 
 
 lie mind, both at home and abroad, was Lord Hstwkea- 
 bury obliged to fubmit the firft overtures for a treaty, 
 which appeared to all men : aim-oft impofliblo to be obtained 
 upon any terms ihort of ruin and difgrace; but to which 
 we were at length happily conducted by the pacification 
 of the neutral powers in the Baltic, after the glorious bat- 
 tle off Copenhagen *, and by the recovery of the Treaty 
 of El-Erisch t which was the confequence of a feries of un- 
 hoped-for victories in Egypt -f. 
 
 It is net my intention to difcufs the merits of the pre- 
 liminary or definitive treaties £, :ior do I otherwife allude 
 to thefe or any other public tranfaclions than as I find 
 them connected with the conduct or chara&er of parties. 
 It is frefh in the recollection of the public, that upon the 
 peace a difference of fentiment immediately appeared 
 amongft the late minifters, fo ferious and important as not 
 only to authorize and confirm the opinion which I have 
 faid had prevailed of there ha-ving long exifted a fchifrn 
 in their cabinet upon that queftion, but to make it appear 
 for ever impoffible for them to a6f. together again in any 
 political union whatfoever. No parties, no principles.* 
 could be more diftincl and difcordant, than thole of Mr. 
 Pitt and Lord Grenville r with their feveral partizansof 
 the old miniftry. The firft gave his entire approbation 
 and fupport to the treaty, the latter omitted no fpecies 
 or excefs of blame and condemnation. Indeed, in the 
 courfe of the contention, a fact, came out of fo extraordi- 
 nary a nature, that although not flriclly witbiji the period 
 to which I ::ave confined this difcourfe, it appears to me 
 too much connected with the object of it, and intrinfi- 
 callyof too much curiofity and intereft, to be mifplaced 
 here, or any where. 
 
 I have already adverted to the disadvantage under which 
 Minifters had been obliged to open the Treaty. The re- 
 signations were interpreted as fignals of diftrefs ; and the 
 
 unfortunate 
 
 * April ad. f Alexandria capitulated September id. 
 
 X March 25 1 189I) and Oftober 1, 1801,
 
 unfortunate negotiations at Lisle, confined and circum- 
 fcribed every projecl or overture they could hazard. Could 
 Mr. Addington propofe terms lefs favourable to Bonaparte, 
 than Lord Grenville had offered to Barras and Rcubell? 
 Would France, now that one half of the Continent lay 
 proftrate at her toot by the Treaty of Luneville ; miftrefs 
 of Egypt j and flirting up a confederation of Kings from 
 the bofom ofahe North, accept conditions lefs glorious or 
 profitable than we had offered her at the moment of one 
 of her revolutions*, while the powers of Europe were 
 unbroken, and ready to renew the war at our Cde ? The 
 projetof Lisle, therefore, was a circle, out of which 
 the fucceffors of Lord Grenville could not tread, and 
 they could no otherwife hope to obtain even thofe terms 
 ir; the prefent predicament of the country; than as they 
 had been demonftrably inferior and inadequate to its con- 
 dition, at the time they were offered. 
 
 Notwithftanding that fo early as the treaty concluded 
 with the Court of St. Peterfburghf, the great talents of 
 Lord Grenville had been employed upon a fpeech and a 
 pamphlet, in which he endeavoured to oppofe, difcredit, 
 and fiigmatize., with every fpecies of aenmony and con- 
 tempt thofe Minifiers, to whom he had fo lately engaged 
 his lonjianty zealous, and aftive ftpport, the public now be- 
 held with fomething more than afionifnment, the fame 
 powers of eloquence, the fame induitry, and the fame fpi- 
 rit exerted to induce Parliament to pronounce a cenfure 
 upon a treaty of peace, drawn up upon his own model, 
 and almofl copied from his own hand ! During thefe dif- 
 cuffions, Mr. Windham, who now took the lead in the 
 oppofition in the other Iloufe, made the important con- 
 feffion, that he had always difapproved of the projeel of- 
 fered by his Lorclfhip to the French Directory; and had 
 always condemned thofe negotiatioios in his mind, to which, 
 a^s a member of the Cabinet, he had outwardly lent his 
 
 aamej 
 
 * Septenibe 4, '7S2«
 
 12 
 
 namf , credit, and refponfibility, and which he had con- 
 ftantly defended in Parliament. Neither did this confef- 
 fion appear officious but indifpen fable; for Mr. Windham 
 felt the glaring inccnf-Jlcncy of oppofmg the peace, and ap- 
 proving of the project. He knew that the bafis of the 
 Treaty of Amiens, was traced at Lisle ; he knew that 
 it had been made more favourable for this country, under 
 circumftances more unfavourable; he knew that his col- 
 leagues had not hoped to obtain the whole of xhc\r % projet ; 
 and that in every negotiation fomething mull be abandoned, 
 and fomething conceded from the conditions of the over- 
 ture. He knew that if it were contended, that he and his 
 colleagues would not have departed from their frojet in a 
 fingle tittle, it followed that it had not been a project, but 
 rn ultimatum ; and that a courier had been more properly 
 charged with it, than a Minuter Plenipotentiary. Before, 
 therefore, he would venture to condemn Lord Cornwal- 
 lis's Treaty, with jiift regard to his own character, he 
 took care to difclaim and difavow his part in Lord Malmf- 
 bury's Negotiation. Do I condemn the right honourable 
 gentleman for this conduct ? not certainly for leaving all 
 the honour of the negotiations at Lifle to Lord Grenville; 
 not certainly for protecting his own reputation, although 
 in fo doing, he fhewed little regard for that of his noble 
 colleague, in the late Cabinet and prefent Oppofition, 
 whofe inconfiitency, he was cruelly holding up to deri- 
 fion ; but I confefs, I am at a lofs to conceive, what greater 
 neceflity exifted now for his cenfuring the peace of Amiens, 
 of which the guilt and reproach (if there were any) did 
 not attach and were not imputed to him, than he could 
 clifcoverin 1797, when his juft portion of the opprobrium, 
 of the negotiations at Lifle, was openly fixed upon his head. 
 I have heard this gentleman applauded by his friends to 
 the very echo, for his conliftency and manlinefs of conduct. 
 Doubtlcfs, by the fide of Lord Grenville, Mr. Windham 
 lias fome advantage ; but pofitive qualities are neither de- 
 pendent upon comparisons nor contrails, nor is a man 
 
 therefore
 
 J 3 
 
 therefore a dwarf becaufe he happens to ftand by a giant. 
 As Mr. Windham is now at the head of a party, and of a 
 great political principle, it may be fitting to enquire a lit- 
 tle into t. ;> : truth and warrant of a title fo high and fo 
 rare ! 
 
 Is it confident (with what is it confiftent I) to oppofe a 
 meafure in the Council, and approve it in the Houfe of 
 Commons? To appear for peace and condemn it; to de- 
 fend negotiations and lament them; to think war only can 
 fave the country, and be part of a miniftry eternally {train- 
 ing after treaties ? Is it confiftent to have been iilent at 
 Liilc, and vociferous at Amiens — to be neutral in power* 
 and violent out of it—to conceal opinions as a Minifter, 
 and promulge them as the head of a party ? — Are thefe, I 
 afk, the qualities and diftinenve marks of a man of place— 
 a man of time — a man of circumstances — a man of con- 
 venience— or the mafcuiine, firm, confiftent, unalterable 
 character of Mr. Windham ? 
 
 In purfuing the fubject of thefe remarks, we fhall have 
 the misfortune to fee the right honourable gentleman in 
 full fruition of his vow, and the kingdom replunged into 
 a war, which no policy, no human prudence, no moder- 
 ation, no forbearance, could avert. Shall we find bin 
 fonftflent then ? Shall we hear his voice cheering the coun- 
 try, infpiring confidence in the government, heroic ar- 
 dour and felf-devotednefs in the people ? Shall we behold 
 him arraying the forces, balloting the militia, calling out 
 the volunteers ? Will he impofe filence upon the factions 
 by his eloquence, banifhing delays, and conquering obsta- 
 cles by the vigour of his mind? Giving the lefibn and ex- 
 ample of public virtue, and acting the glorious part of a 
 patriot-ftatefman, the difciple of Burke ? 
 
 The Miniftcrs were confident of having deferved well ; 
 they had obtained a peace for the country, beyond the 
 hopes of the wifeft arid the moft fanguine of their well- 
 wifhers, and they had arrived at it by the gate of victory 
 and fuccefs. During the fhort period of their power, the 
 
 battles
 
 H 
 
 battles of Algeziras and Copenhagen had crowned the roftral 
 column, and completed the glorious blazon of our naval 
 enterprize and fuccefs. But the recovery of the treaty of 
 El-Arifch, in confequence of the decided fuperiority of his 
 Majefly's troops and commanders over the pretended invin- 
 cible generals and armies of France, gave a character to 
 the peace, more deferable, more incalculably valuable, 
 than Malta, Trinidad, and Ceylon, or all the teiritorial 
 acquifitions which could have been obtained by the utmoft 
 happihefs of diplomatic ingenuity*. 
 
 It has been already obferved, that Mr. Fox, and the 
 whole of the Old Oppoiition party, as it is henceforward 
 to be called, thought it their policy to approve unequi- 
 vocally of the peace. How could they do otherwife ? 
 They had uniformly invoked and demanded peace at every 
 expence and at every facjifice; and they had determined 
 befides to give a little encouragement to the JubJiHute admi- 
 nistration, in the hope that it might open the way to a bet- 
 ter underflanding in certain cafes, and at any rate for the 
 fatisfaction of mortifying the refigners, and rendering their 
 promifed, but always equivocal afiiftance, lefs important 
 and meritorious. I do not know that it is neceffary to the 
 prefent fubject, for me to occupy much more of the time 
 and reflexion of the public upon the ftate and politics of 
 parties, at this period. It is poffible fame individualsf 
 
 had 
 
 * I fhould, (with more IdTure) have little hesitation in maintaining the 
 paradox, that at Amiens it would have been pofiible to render b.ick mor« 
 to the Firft Conful and his allies, after our victories in Egypt than before 
 them •, becaufe, from henceforward, our eftablifhed fuperiority in the field, 
 ap well as upon the ocean, enabled us to rifk more without palpable impru- 
 dence, to confide more in ourfelves, and lefs in diftant fortrefles and external 
 defence; and, finally, to try the "Grand Experiment of Peace," with bet- 
 ter aufpices, and more certain refources in ourfelves. 
 
 •p Mr. Tierney has fucceeded. Reports have not been wanting, nor do I 
 beliefe, that Mr. Grey and Lord Moira would have proved inexorable if any 
 overtures had been made; but the fact is otherwife. It is to be obferved that 
 Mr. Grey, had taken many occafions of diftinguifhing his parliamentary op- 
 pofition from that of Mr. Fox. With regard to Government, as conneaed 
 
 with
 
 *5 
 
 had deeper dcfigns and clearer objects in view. But as 
 brevity is a great part of my defign, I think this (hort re- 
 capitulation will be fufficicnt. 
 
 Mr. Pitt unequivocally approved the peace — Mr. 
 Windham, the Grenvilles, and their adherents, as deci- 
 dedly affecled to lament and condemn it— while the per*- 
 fonal friends of Mr. Pitt, and the members mod attached 
 and devoted to him by the habits of private life, took the 
 liberty of difclaiming him for their leader, and indulged 
 in every fpecies of rancour, malice, and hoftility, againfl: 
 the perfon who had had the prefumption to fill his vacant 
 place in the Cabinet. Of this party Mr. Canning, if not 
 the founder, had the reputation of being the leader ; and 
 as I have now arrived at the difl'olution of the lad parlia- 
 ment*, I take the opportunity of fubmitting a few re- 
 flexions upon the influence they had upon public opinion^ 
 the doubt?, anxiety, and fpcculation which they nou- 
 rifhed and kept alive, and the difagreeable infinuations 
 and fufpicions, they originated againfl the purity of tbc 
 high chara£ter, whofe wifhes and interefts they Mere fup- 
 pofed beft to underftand, and to whofe perfon they were 
 exclufively devoted. 
 
 It appeared from the eager refentments of thefe zealous 
 partizans, in the firft place, that they difappro\ed of thf* 
 conduct of their patron in having refigned the fcals of his 
 office;— »and that with his place he had loft that influence 
 and authority over their minds, which had hitherto com- 
 manded their approbation or acquiefcence ; that they chofe 
 now to think and fpeak for themfelves, to condemn his ar- 
 rangements, to ridicule his friendfhips, and to attack the 
 
 meafures, 
 
 with parties, the friendfhip of Mr. Pitt, anil hi: return to the Cabinet, were 
 its favourite, and (I imagine) its exclufive reliance and dtfire, 
 
 * The differences of opinion upon the peace eftablifhment arofe fo imp!.* • 
 citly out of thole upon the peace, that they neither altered or difcovered airy 
 thing, that I am aware of, in the ftate of parties. Mr. Fox and Mr. Bank*: 
 would have been contented with the ufual degree of force and preparedneiV. 
 Mr. Windham and the Grenvilles founded alarm and anv.arr.eat. Tils M. : 
 sifters, as ufual, toofc tbc middle courfe. 
 
 i — .
 
 t6 
 
 iiieafures, and the men he fupported. Then again, as it is 
 the nature of uncertainty, it feemed as if this fupport could 
 not be perfectly fincere, or very durable, in which the 
 perfons moft folicitous of his favour could not be induced 
 to concur : and it was thought incredible that Mr. Can- 
 uing, in particular, diftinguifhed by his friendfhip and 
 partiality, fhould rebel againfl his benefaclor ; and, at the 
 moment of his retreat, fall fuddenly into mutiny and re- 
 volt ! The public could not, therefore, be brought impli- 
 citly to believe either that the acceptance of the new Mi- 
 nifters itfelf, or at any rate the credit and popularity which 
 they had acquired by the late happy events, were altoge- 
 ther agreeable to Mr, Pitt. 
 
 It was obferved, that at the very outfet, his confidential 
 friends, his Pylades and faithful Achates, had felt difap- 
 pointment in the very circumftance of the King':; having 
 been able to find another Minifter at all ! But that this Mi- 
 nifler fhould dare to appear worthy of his Majefty's confi- 
 dence, and to carry on his affairs with ability or fuccefs, 
 appeared an unpardonable injury and a crime ! 
 
 If I were as certain of not giving offence, as I am free 
 from intending it, and of being as little fufpecled of a flat- 
 tery, as I am incapable of meaning one, I would venture 
 to afk of Mr. Canning himfelf, for whofe agreeable talents 
 and private worth I have as much refpedt as any man, 
 whether it were poihble for thefe inferences and conclu- 
 fions to have efcaped his own good fenfe and fagacity ? 
 Whether he did not feel that he was throwing a fufpicion 
 over the candour and finccrity of Mr. Pitt* ? and in cafe 
 that any poffible mcafures of the prefent Minifters, at any 
 future time, might compel the confeience of Mr. Pitt to with- 
 draw his promifed fupport from them, and to take an ac- 
 tive part in oppofnion to them, whether he did not per- 
 ceive that he was undermining and dcflroying beforehand 
 the conviclion and credit of the country, in the compul- 
 
 iion 
 
 * Mr. Pilt Las fince been exculpated upon this point by Mr. Canning with 
 great do^ueacc, but inipeifect uiecef*. Vide PiUl.JEUg. Dec. 5> iSo*.
 
 fion of his right honourable friend's confcicnce ? Whether 
 he did not perceive that he was expofing that late, contin- 
 gent, conftrained, and ,poffible oppofition to the fufpicion 
 of fyftem, preconcert and policy f* 
 
 I would afk of Mr. Canning whether it were not too 
 great a fubmifllon of his rare talents and acquirements, to 
 appear a mere partizan and flicklcr for the Houfe of Grcn- 
 ville? Whether he can lookback with fatisfa$ion hereafter, 
 from the proud eminence to which one day no doubt. he 
 afpires in the councils of his country, to the debate of 
 Nov. 23, 1802, when, blinded by recent hatred and party 
 zeal, he aflerted that the " State in which, the late minifitrs 
 left the country y was the r ever [e of calamitous ?" "That there 
 never was a fttuation which afforded more temptation to the 
 wijbes or ambition of thofe who were propofed tofuccsed them f) 
 '*• That nothing could be more deft r able than the fucceffion chained by 
 the p'efent Minifler*," &c. &c. Surely there may come a 
 time 
 
 Magno cum optaverit emptum,! 
 that all thefe things had been unfaid, which were contra- 
 dicted by the confeience of every hearer, and will be eter- 
 nally difproved by the hiftory of the country. 
 
 I would afk of Mr. Canning, (for whom I repeat that 
 I entertain a confiderable degree of reipeel and good-will), 
 whether in the difference and diftinclion with which he has 
 always affecled to treat his noble friend, Lord Hawkef- 
 bury, he was pleafing the old miniftry ? and whether his 
 perfonalities towards Mr. Addington did not lead him in 
 thefe civilities to mortify Lord Grenville? But if his re- 
 gard for Lord Hawkeibury could conquer the fear of of- 
 fending Lord Grenville, why might not his regard for Mr. 
 Pitt have overcome his antipathy to Mr. Addingtonf ? 
 I would afk whether lie could feel no repugnance at be- 
 coming the inftrument (I will not fay the machine) of other 
 pxTfons? If the delicacy of his feelings were quite iati.Iled 
 
 * Vide Parliamentary Regifter, Nov. 23, 
 f Vide Debate^ December ad.
 
 9 
 
 as to the juftice, the honor, or the decency, of being the . 
 organ of their hatred, their fury, their pride, difappoint- 
 ment, and rancour, againft gentlemen with whom he had 
 long lived in habits of political and private intimacy, for 
 whom he had profeffed friendfhip and efteem ; againft Mr. 
 Addington, the bofom friend of his patron, and againft 
 Lord Chatham, his brother ? 
 
 I would afk of Mr. Canning, whether he felt no fcruple 
 or compunction for himfelf, and if he had not difcarded 
 all xefpect and mercy for the feelings of Mr. Pitt, when 
 he confented to become the chief of the fatyrifts and fcof- 
 fers of a cabinet, of which Lord Chatham was the presi- 
 dent? and I would afk him whether he had been jufter to 
 himfelf, and to his own juft pretenfions and character, 
 than we have feen him to the fenfibility of his friend and 
 patron, when be condefcended to become a hero of fquibs 
 and epigrams, a leader of doggrel and lampoon, a power 
 in the war of abufe and invective, an inftrument of Mr. 
 "Windham, and an auxiliary of Cobbett? 
 
 A great part of the fummer of 1802, was taken up with 
 the general election, in which the minifters had formed the 
 lingular refolution of ufing no influence, or interference 
 whatsoever. In the mean time, the Firft Conful of France 
 was purfuing a courfe that muft have been exceedingly 
 gratifying to Mr. Windham, and the band of gentlemen, 
 whom the Moniteur had politely chriftenfd the «' war-fac- 
 tion." But upon thefe topics, I permit myfelf to fay no 
 more than I conceive to be neceffary to keep up the thread 
 of the particular fubjecrs under difcuflion. When Parlia- 
 ment re-affernbled*, the afpe6t of foreign affairs, was far 
 from prornifing tranquillity. The government in the 
 Thuilleries had proceeded with violence, and without an 
 attempt at diffimulation in that train of encroachment, 
 from which, even during the negotiation at Amiens, it 
 had not been able to defift. I need fcarcely mention the 
 names of Piedmont, Parma, and Swiflerland. The 
 
 French 
 * November 8, i8«z.
 
 l 9 
 
 Fiench trcops had not been withdrawn according to 
 treaty from the territories of the Batavian Republic, and 
 foine of the ceflions on our part in the Treaty of Amiens 
 itmained unexecuted. 
 
 It had alfo become neceflary for minifters to place in the 
 King's mouth, an affurance that his Majefty would conti- 
 nue to keep a vigilant eye upon the affairs of the Conti- 
 nent*. — There was, I believe, but one opinion upon this 
 point, that it was a dignified and becoming proceeding ; at 
 lead it did not appear expedient to any of the parties I have 
 defcribed to find fault with it. It was confidered as a fo- 
 lemn but a temperate protefl. againft the offenfive and in- 
 lulting afTumption of the Official Paper of the chief magif- 
 trate of France, who was evidently attempting to difcre-, 
 dit and difhonour us in the courts of Europe, trying the 
 fpirit of the country, and the extent of the patience and 
 forbearance of its government, by avowed and authenti- 
 cated pretenfions : afferting that at the iate peace we had 
 confented to withdraw ourfelves from all continental in- 
 terference and connexion, and to confine and circumfcribe 
 our political cares and importance to our own idand and 
 its dependencies. It may be afked why I have thought it 
 neceflary to ftate this circumftance fo particularly, feeing 
 that no divifion or new difcovery of parties was the refult 
 of it ? My excufe will be, that this paragraph of his Ma- 
 jefty 's Speech is a complete anfwer to all thofe paltry and 
 futile accufations which have been prefened againft minif- 
 ters, for having concealed the true ftate of affairs, during 
 the difcuffion of the bill for the relief of the Prince of 
 
 D a Wales ; 
 
 * «' In my intercouife with foreign powers, I have been actuated by a. 
 fincere defire for the maintenance of peace. It is neverthelelV impoflible for 
 me to lofe fight of that eftablifhed and wife fyftem of policy, by which th« 
 interefts of other ftates are connected with our own ; and I cannot therefore 
 lie indifferent to any material change in their relative condition and llrength. 
 My conduct will invariably be regulated by a due conlideratioo of the aQual 
 fituation i>f Europe, and by a watchful folicitude for the permanent welfrra 
 
 cf my people," 
 
 Hit M3Je°,y'j Sjeech, Nov. 3, 1 891.
 
 20 
 
 Wales; upon which occafion they are accufed of having 
 given a falfe reprefentation of the probabilities of the per- 
 manence of the Peace. — The Interval between this meffagc 
 and die 8th of March, is but three weeks ! the whole com- 
 plaint and charge are confined to three weeks ! the whole 
 complaint and cha.ige are confined to three weeks! But 
 furely government did not encourage too fanguine a hope 
 of the duration of peace, when they defcribed it to be 
 **■ an experiment"— when they faid it had cf left the Con- 
 tinent in an unfatisfactory ftate" — when they afked for 
 <c fifty thoufand feamen for the defence and fecurity of our 
 own coafts." — Really if there exifts an individual who 
 ever did confide in the duration of the late peace, I would 
 counfel him to keep his own fecret. It will be in vain to 
 charge his drivelling as a crime upon other men. He is 
 Nature's fool, and not Mr. Addington's. 
 
 At the opening i of the new Parliament, it quickly ap- 
 peared that the reflections of the recefs, and the philofo- 
 phy of the fummer had diminifhed nothing of thofe vio- 
 lent paffions which had difturbed the features of the reiig- 
 nation, and made the voluntary act of the late minifleis 
 look like constraint and difappointment. Their defire to 
 return into the offices they had quitted, as it now appeared, 
 under fome error or mifconception, was no longer dif- 
 fembled, and the houfes of parliament feemed to have 
 changed their conftitutional' character and office for co- 
 mitia and huftings,. where our Peers and reprcftntatives, 
 regardlefs of the king's prerogative, were occupied in 
 daily canvafs for the feats in his cabinet. The Lords Gren- 
 ville*, Spencer, and Carlifie, without the fmalleft colour 
 or care of diffimulation, held a language which openly- 
 pointed out to the executive government to take back the 
 minifter who had refigned in 1801. This was the defign 
 of every motion, the burthen of every amendment, the 
 conclufion of every harangue. For this object, c\ery 
 
 fpe cie« 
 
 * Debate*, D«. 2.
 
 21 
 
 fpecies of defpondency was again carefully fpread amongft 
 the people. The finances were decried, and the ftate- 
 ments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer difputed — even 
 the refources of the country were attacked. For this the 
 conduct of government was arraigned in all us foreign in- 
 tercourfe, and the crimes of Bonaparte prepofteroufly 
 transferred to Mr. Addington. For this, the Admiralty- 
 was reviled! and calumniated, and thofe juft and falutary 
 reforms in the dock-yards, which will carry down the 
 victorious name of St. Vincent to pofterity, with every 
 character of public virtue and devotion, reprefented as 
 cruel perfecutions. For this, the " infurre&ion of job- 
 bers" in the dock-yards was abetted and defended, and 
 the rebellion of boards and departments encouraged and 
 promoted. 
 
 It has been faid,. that 
 
 Le jour Fun nowveav rtgne ejf le jear its ingratt ; 
 
 but it does not appear that the late minifters had any com- 
 plaints of this nature to prefer. It is true that the mafs of 
 political gratitude, which is apt enough to become inert 
 and dull, was here fet to work by a proper infufion of 
 hope and fpeculation, and that the return of the old mi- 
 niftry, whieh was ftill as confidently looked for as it was 
 ftrenuoufly attempted, might have no little fhare in re- 
 minding fo many honourable members and commijponers oi 
 their original obligations. Perhaps in only one point of 
 view was the pofition of the Miniflry more difficult thaa 
 it was rendered by this fpecujathe gratitudsy and that was 
 by their own real regard and adherence for fome of their 
 predeceflbrs. This fentiment they had allowed to cripple 
 their defence in the debate upon the peace of Amiens, 
 and to preclude them from going into the ftate of the na- 
 tion, ami recording the unhappy circumftances of the 
 country at the time that the care of its affairs devolved 
 upon them ; and this fentiment always led them to hope 
 and defire the return of Mr. Pitt into the Cabinet, and 
 that he would one day form a part of their adminiftration. 
 
 It
 
 as 
 
 It is not, indeed, to be wondered at that this attachment- 
 and affection, the habit of all his life, fhould flill prevail 
 in the bofom of Mr. Addington, and it could only be 
 lamented if it were not returned with the fame warmth of 
 fincerity and the fame conftancy of friendfhip. 
 
 The firft part of the Seilion fhews us Mr. Pitt courted 
 by both parties, the objeel of their common worfhip and 
 defire, feve rally invited by each to ftrengthen or over- 1 
 throw the Miniftry which he had himfelf inftalled by the 
 flrongeft eulogium, whofe meafures he had individual] v 
 fupported, and who had committed the fingle crime of 
 appearing to juflify and deferve the chara6;ers he had 
 given of them. 
 
 It were curious to confider what inducements could 
 have been fuggefted by trie eloquence and ingenuity of 
 Lord Grenville, to prevail upon his right honourable re- 
 lation to abandon them ! It cannot be fuppofed that he 
 urged to Mr. Pitt the care of confiftency and regard to his 
 own reputation 1 That he argued that it was incumbent 
 upon him, or becoming, to defert the miniftry, becaufe he 
 had promifed to fupport them, or becaufe he had applauded! 
 the meafures and the principle of their adminiflration. 
 One cannot bring onefelf to imagine, that the noble Lord 
 jeprefented to him that he ought to join Miv Windham and 
 his lordfhip, lecaitfe they were bent upon immediate war. 
 while Mr. Pitt himfelf was decided to prolong peace to the 
 laft moment of endurance. It is more natural to enquire 
 what arguments his great abilities could invent to gam 
 over his light honourable coufin, in fpite of thofe circum- 
 flances ; by what addrefs he could keep them out of hh 
 eye; by what confummate policy and fkill he could lead 
 his mind away from them, while he pre fen ted thofe induce- 
 ments (whatever they were) private or public, of ambition 
 or confanguinity, by which he was at laft crowned with 
 fuccefs in this extraordinary negotiation. I confefs that 
 if any fingle thing could make me regret, at this juncture, 
 the abfence of his Lordfhip from his Majcfty's councils, it 
 
 WQuh!
 
 would be the convielion which this circumflance prefentt 
 of the unparalleled Skill and ability, and of the absolutely 
 unrivalled powers of his mind in this fcience of negotia- 
 tion. I have not forgotten his lordfhip's letter to the Fiift 
 Consul of France ; but the diplomatic who could perfuade 
 Mr. Pitt upon this occafion, appears to me the iole Mi- 
 nister capable of converting Bonaparte ! 
 
 In the mean time, notwithstanding the open recommen- 
 dations, or rather dictates for his return to the treafury, 
 which were unremitted in either houfe of parliament, that 
 right honourable gentleman, whofi health and avocations 
 did not permit his attendance in parliament, continued his 
 ailurances of fupport to the minifters: but it caufed fome 
 degree of furprife that no authority was given in either 
 houfe of parliament to any gentleman in his confidence to 
 difclaim and deny all part and knowledge in the unconsti- 
 tutional mention that had been made of his name. It does 
 rather appear as if there had been a little political jilting 
 and flirtation with both Suitors; and one cannot help 
 thinking one might have (een 
 
 . ilium tereti cervke reflexum 
 
 Mulceve alternos, et corpora fiogere lingua. 
 
 So far, however, as I have had opportunity to obferve 3 
 I think I may venture to aflert, that the Ministers maintained 
 their ufual good correspondence, and received the ufual 
 confirmations of fupport and friendship from Mr. Pitt till 
 March laft, and fome time rather advanced in that month. 
 Upon her Majefty's birth-day, in January, I have heard 
 that fome trifling form and folemnitv confirmed the bond, 
 and that Mr. Pitt, who dined with the Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer, took occafion to declare that he would come 
 to town and give government his affiftance in parliament 
 upon the firft queflion of importance, and upon any which 
 they might think required his fupport; but having been at 
 h diflance at that time, and unwilling now to make particular 
 enquiries, I State it only as report. By Slating this :rp:rt, I 
 ~ot mean to difcredit it: upon the contrary, try obUr-
 
 24 
 
 ttaiim at another time and place, leads me to vouch for its 
 extreme probability. If, after all, there be any error, it 
 is in the date not the truth of the tranfaction. The friend- 
 fhip, however, .continued till the period I have afligned. 
 Nor can I ftate it as having been abfolutely retracted or dif- 
 folved till about the third week in April, although there 
 Temained, in the interval, no appearances of its effect or 
 exiftence. Very early in .this month, it is well known, 
 that a plan was in agitation fpr the admiflion of that right 
 honourable gentleman, and fome of his friends, into the 
 Cabinet. As far as I have obferved, this negotiation origi- 
 nated with Lord Melville, and was conducted by him; 
 nor do I at all fear being miftaken in Hating, that the in- 
 tentions and conduct of that noble Lord were fair, ho- 
 nourable, and impartial. I have great fatisfaction in fay- 
 ing fp, becaufe I know a contrary opinion prevails, and 
 becaufc a fubfequent vote of his lordfhip's has a tendency 
 to maintain and encourage that opinion. Thofe perfons, 
 however^ who had the means of near obfervation, believed 
 that the noble lord was almoft as much hurt and difap- 
 pointed at the extravagant proportion upon which the ne- 
 gotiation went off, as the Minifters themfelves were. 
 
 The war was now evidently approaching * ; and, be- 
 fides thofe perfonal habits of friendfhip, which at all times 
 governed the mind of Mr. Addington, the great talents 
 and popularity of Mr. Pitt, amongft the monied perfons, 
 muft have rendered him a moil delirable acquifition to any 
 adminiftration in which he would take a part.— I tread 
 here, and I am very fenfible of it, upon tender ground ; 
 I feel that I may be uttering things better liked in filence, 
 but not better fupprefTed ; for the public and pofterity are 
 interefted in the truth, and have a right to it. That I fhall 
 not much, or materially miflead them, I have no light 
 reafon to be fatisfied ; but neither do I pretend to have ob- 
 ferved every thing, nor think it quite prudent to fet down 
 
 every 
 
 * The King's meffage had beeo delivered on the 8th of March, and the 
 negotiations for peace were at thU period very UDpromifiog.
 
 35 
 
 p very tiling I may have obferved. If I fall into any miftake* 
 or misdate th? fmalleft point of importance to the character 
 or any of the dlftingujfhed perfons involved in the fubjeet 
 of thefe Remarks, the error is involuntary: arti it is evi- 
 dent that it is so, Since there is So much eafe and fo great an 
 iritereSt in refuting it. It might) perhaps, be thought too 
 much to appeal to Lord Melville for the accuracy of ano- 
 pymout allegations; but the public will judge whether, if I 
 am capable of deceiving it, Mr. Pitt and other gentlemen 
 are likely to fubmit to the following TmV-reprefentations ! 
 
 In the negotiation which his Lordfhip conduced, I think 
 it proper that it Should be known, that there was no obsta- 
 cle upon the part of miniftry to his Lbrdfhip's return, 
 with Mr. Pitt and others of his friends; I do not fay upon 
 a footing of equality with Mr. Addington and others of the 
 prefent administration, but beyond it. It is proper that it 
 fhould be known, that the treaty did not go off (as has 
 been pretended) on account of the want of a meffage/rom 
 a quarter, too high to be mentioned 'j a communication which 
 would not have been wanting in due time, if the negotiation 
 could have been brought to an ifTue upon the terms I have 
 mentioned ; but that it broke offupon the pofitive unalter- 
 able demand of Mr. Pitt himfelf, to bring back with him 
 the Lords Grenville and Spencer, with other noble and ho- 
 nourable perfons, who had difapproved of every meafure 
 of the government, who were in the habit of perfonal inci- 
 vility an J dilrefpect, and who were adverfe to the whole 
 Spirit and principle of the administration. 
 
 \V e have now (ttn that thofe recommendations, or rather 
 dictates to the Sovereign, with which the Seflions opened, 
 thofe loud demands for the return of Mr. Pitt to the confi- 
 dence of his Majefty, have been faithfully and honourably 
 repaid. 
 
 Lord Grenville would replace Mr. Pitt in power, and it 
 had been very ungrateful if Mr. Pitt had forgotten the obli- 
 gation. Thus have thefe illuftrions perfons maintained 
 unbroken the band: of their political connexion, in fpite 
 
 £ of
 
 26 
 
 of their difference of opinion upon the greatefl political 
 occurrence?. — and thus hasMr. Aldington been deprived of 
 Mr. Pitt's friendfnip, natwithftanding every one of his 
 nieafures has receive.! his fupport and approbation ! 
 
 The difcuilion of this extraordinary tranfaeiion, has led 
 me fomewhat pad the period of hisMajefty'smeiTage of the 
 oth of March, in which the necefiity had been announced 
 of adopting meafures of precaution, with regard to France ; 
 which proceeding of the miniftry, and the fubfequent ar- 
 mament they propofed, fo far horn producing that una- 
 nimity of parties which might have been expected, and 
 which at firft it ar pea red to have effected, only exsfperated 
 and laid* bare the depth and foulnefs of their rank and mor- 
 tified ambition. Will it be believed, that upon this occafion 
 the iC war- faction*," .to ufe the phrafe of the FhftCon- 
 ful of France) which had treated every moment of peace 
 as a compromife of the national honour and fecurity, 
 which had inceflamly urged, railed, and attempted to in- 
 timidate the government into- immediate war, now turned* 
 fuddenly as the wind, and drifted their principles like a fail ? 
 Let us hear the language of the manly, confident Mr* 
 Windham -f- ! <c He hoped that it would not be fuppofed 
 that the oppofers of the -peace would be foremoft to propofe 
 the renewal of hoflilities I the very reverfe would be found 
 to be the legitimate refult of the principles they had em- 
 braced : they had chiefly oppofed that peace, becaufe its 
 terms put the country out of a condition to go to war 
 again ! ! ! There were no perfons holding his opinions 
 who could contemplate the renewal of war without ferious 
 alarm :!!'." 
 
 Mr. Canning 
 
 * They were ftylcd 4< Bloodhounds " in a print which is in the exduGve 
 intereft of Mr. P tt. 
 
 -p In the Debate on the Addrefs, November 23, Mr. Windham faid, <l Not 
 being in an official fitu*tion, I am not fuffkiently informed to advife particu. 
 larly — but I think we fhould weigh well in what fituation we fhall be when the 
 war comes upon us, for come it will, and fooner than I wifh to fay. I think. 
 
 IT WOULD BE THE WISER WAY TO ANTICIPATE THE SLOW." 
 
 X March 9. Vide Parliamentary Regifter. Debate upon the Addrefs.
 
 2 7 
 
 Mr. Canning faid, cc The meflage had excited through- 
 .out the country the greateft anxiety and alarm,"' and com- 
 plained of the IC great degree of docility which the \ eeple 
 
 had of late manifefted, and of their llrong difpofiuon to 
 give Minifters credit, e<c. *." 
 
 Mr. Thomas Grenville declared. that there was no man 
 more ready or more eager to vote for the adore Is, especially 
 ifitfhould be likely to procure puck and tranquil- 
 li ty | !J ! 
 
 Dr. Lawrence profeffed, " his wiftjes were for pf.ace!!! 
 He expeeled it fliould be proved that the war, if it mujl 
 now be renewed, was indifpenfabiy neceaary to the fafety 
 arid honor of -the empire J ! ! J" 
 
 I will not difguft the reader with more of t'jis opprobri- 
 ous palinody, nor detain him long from the reflexions it 
 nuift excite. But it is neceflary that I fiiould fix his atten- 
 tion upon thefe miraculous conversions, becaufe he w-iii 
 fhortly find that they were fo fincere and compunctious, 
 and the new reluctance and<averiion to hoftilities fo pious 
 and invincible, as to induce the feel to throw every oblia- 
 cle in the way^of officering the militia, to difcredit our con- 
 stitutional army altogether, and with the zeal of true pro- 
 fdytihn to preach up humiliation and defpondency, and 
 decry that wicked confidence in our own Hate, and means 
 of falvation, which political methodif > know to be the 
 moft infallible fign of reprobation. 
 
 It is too recent in recollejlion for .it to b; oecefiary for- 
 me to relate with what feiui'iients the public received this 
 new creed of the moft ferene and pacific war-fauion ; and 
 it might bi thought ludicrous and out of the fcope of the 
 prefent topic, to advert to the furprife and aftonilhment 
 which General Bonaparte is laid to have manifefted upon 
 discovering the long -mi-lake and jnis-apprehenfion under 
 which he had lived v. itb regard to it. 
 
 E 2 I cannot, 
 
 * Marc!) 9. Vide Parliamentary Regifter. Debate upon the .\ddrefs. 
 f Ibid. ■ X 'IWd-
 
 28 
 
 I cannot, however, pafs over this point altogether, be- 
 caufe I am of opinion that the language now held by the 
 new opposition had a considerable effect upon the negotia- 
 tions which were carried on from this period, with en- 
 creafed activity and intereft, and aliumed a tone exceedingly 
 categorical and deciiive. Doubtlefs, it is impoffible for 
 mc, or any other individual, to prove that the Firft Con- 
 ful had not originally fixed his refolution, and that he had 
 not been always altogether determined upon war. In this 
 cafe it mull be admitted, that he derived not his firft motive 
 from the extraordinary language of Mr. Windham and his 
 colleagues. But I fhall then contend, that this language 
 muff, have operated to encourage and confirm his intention, 
 which neither Mr. Windham, nor any other perfon can 
 deny, might poffibly have wavered, or have finally given 
 way. The Firft Conful, in his memorable expofe to the 
 legiflative body, had exprefsly ftated, that " this country 
 could find no ally upon the Continent, and that without 
 allies, and fingle-handed, fhe was unable to fuftain a war 
 with France." I believe this defiance was received with 
 indignation by every Englifhman, and by Mr. Windham 
 among the. reft ; I had once thought, even more than by 
 the reft. I believe too, that it was refented not more for 
 its audacity, than its abfolute falsehood, and that there did 
 notexift at that time ^ fingle individual who was not pre- 
 pared to contradict and difprove it. How then muft it have 
 fatisfied and delighted the firft Conful to learn, that as loon 
 as the King's menage had taught us to think in earncft upon 
 the fubjecf, and as foon as a diftinc-t. appearance and ap- 
 proach of war had become vifible in England, even thofe 
 flatefmen who had mod invoked and provoked it, were 
 become fudden converts to his opinion, and openly declared 
 the truth of it ! With what tranfports muft he not- have 
 heard M. Otto tranflate from the debates in the Englifh 
 papers this cxprefs ftatement of Mr. Windham, that " he 
 could not contemplate the renewal of hoftilities without 
 ferious alarm, and that he had chiefly oppofed the 
 
 peace
 
 29 
 
 peace becaufe it had put *Jie country out of a condition to renew 
 the war?" 
 
 One cannot help figuring to oncfelf the amazement of this 
 auguft Perfonage at finding that he had been (peaking truth 
 as'Moliere's Citizen fpoke profe, without fufpefling it \ and 
 one fancies all thofe little tender confeiemious reproaches 
 which he muft have made to his own mind for the injuftice 
 he had been guilty of, and the ill-opinion he had ente - 
 tainedof the candid, manly, and confident Mr. Windham ! 
 Certainly had he fooner been made acquainted with the 
 Right Honourable Gentleman's fentiments upon the peace, 
 and upon the iriipoffibility of this country's going to war 
 again, there had been no occalion foraccufing him of com- 
 plicity with the contrivers of the infernal machine! Could 
 he have foreknown the Right Honourable Gentleman's 
 thoughts of the Militia, and the Army of Refer ve, and 
 k the training of the country, he would not have been un- 
 grateful enough to conlider him as the chief of an atrocious 
 « war-tacVion," an implacable enemy of France, and a 
 confpirator againft the life of her firft magiftrate ! 
 
 The anxious period which intervened between his Ma- 
 jefty's meifage of the 8th of March, and the return of hJs 
 Ambaffador from Paris, does not appear to me to furnifh 
 any thing connected with the ftate of parties, more in:e- 
 reftingthan the avowal of thefe fentiments by Mr. Windham 
 and Mr. W. Elliot, who had been Secretaries at War under 
 the late adminiflration. Both thefe gentlemen were now 
 difcovcred to be adverfe to the fyftem and principle of mi- 
 litia forces altogether ; an opinion which did not io much 
 furprife the admirers of the conftitutiou and of that conlti- 
 tutional force, upon any other ground, as becaufe in their 
 official fituations, they had feverally appeared the molt zea- 
 lous advocates and promoters of this fpecies of army. Mr. 
 Elliot, who nowoppofed recruiting the frifh militia at four 
 guineas per man, was reminded by the Attorney General 
 for Ireland, that he himfelf (Mr. Elliot) ha ! brought in a 
 
 •
 
 3^ 
 
 bill* for recruiting it at fix guineas; and Mr. Windham f 
 was put in mind that during the time he had been in office, 
 the militia in England had been augmented to an unprece- 
 dented degree? and the militia of both Scotland and Ire- 
 land injlituied and begun ! J Thus it appeared, that it was 
 not in the folitary inftance of the negotiations at Lille, but 
 in great general meafures of domeftic import, executive 
 government, and legiflation, that the manly, confiflent 
 Mr. Windham, had not only lent his name, countenance, 
 and authority, againft his opinion, but that he had even 
 condefcended to become the official inflrument and organ 
 of meafures which he difapproved and condemned ! ! It 
 always remained however to be accounted for, both by 
 this Right Honourable Gentleman and Mr, Elliot, why 
 they felt themfelves more obliged to declare their oppofition 
 at one time than at another; why they could fubmit their 
 docile confeience to the hand of Mr. Pitt, and fhew fuch a 
 reftive fpirit of mutiny under the guidance of his fuccef- 
 for ! ! ! It will be faid they were in office at one time, and 
 out of it at the other; but if this is an excufe, it follows 
 that to be neutral in things you difapprove, is lefs blame- 
 able than to be active in them ; and that you may originate 
 meafures you condemn, but not fuffer them to be promoted 
 by other perfons. 
 
 While the artifices, and poffibly the hefitation of the 
 mind of the Firft Conful of France protracted the nego- 
 tiations, the New Oppolition did not fail to urge and goad 
 minifters to a premature difclofure of the intercourse which 
 was taking place between the two governments; a circum- 
 flance which it is neceffary to take notice of in this place, 
 becaufe it produced Lord Grenville incircumflancesfimilar 
 to Mr. Windham, and proved that no part of the New 
 Oppofition would fubmit in any fhape to be hampered and 
 reftrained by the parts they had acled in the late govern- 
 ment, or by a weak and fcrupulous regard to pad habits, 
 
 profeffionsa 
 
 * March 15. f Maich i5.
 
 profeflions, and character, any more than by their fpecific 
 engagements, and promifes of fupport. 
 
 Certainly after the manners and tone which the noble 
 Lord had held in office, it was the boldeft of all attempts 
 to appear in the part of the chief of an oppofition ; and 
 his great abilities, and the refpecl which is due to them, 
 are in nothing more evident than that he is able to fuftain it 
 at all : there are fo many iubjects upon which an ordinary 
 mind would have been precluded from taking part ! Td 
 common men, it would have appeared almoft impoflible to 
 move eternally for papers«*-to require meflages and com- 
 munications from the crown — to complain of the people 
 being kept in the dark — of minifters fhrinking from refpon- 
 fibility— to flop a malt bill — to difpute the profperity of 
 the revenue — to cenfure a treaty of their own drawing 
 up— in fhort, to demand whatever they had refufed — to 
 condemn whatever conduit, they had purfued — to attack 
 where they had promifed to fuppoTt— and to be in com- 
 plete uniform variance and hoftility with the whole tenouy 
 of their life, charaiter, and principles. 
 
 It would not be doing even the little juftice I am able, 
 to the fubjed lam treating of, if I were to omit, that the 
 ftyle and language of oppofition was much degenerated in 
 the new hands to which it had transferred itfelf. The late 
 minority, though it had been treated as a low contemptible 
 faction of levellers and jacobins, never dealt in abujjfe and 
 incivility fo largely as the great ariftocracy which had now 
 fucceeded to their place. Jbfurd, incapable 3 and groffer 
 epithets were liberally applied to his Majefty's councils and 
 minifters, and by no n ember of either houfe more frer 
 quemly than by the noble Lor.i, who, while a niiniftei 
 was not very tolerant in debate, not v*ry apt to forgive 
 even a queftion or an alluiion ! It has been faid, that 
 
 Honores mutant more:, 
 but the converfe of the proposition was now eftablifhed to 
 be true. I will not fay of the noble Lord, that none but 
 bimfelf could be his parallel, but that none but himfelf 
 
 could
 
 could be fo perfectly and entirely the Oppofite and convene 
 of him (elf. It is an old axiom, that things alike cannot be 
 the fame; but that identity cannot be deftroyecfby the mod 
 per feci: antithefis and diftinct: diffimilarity, we have Lord 
 Grenville fur a demonftration ! 
 
 In order the better to prick and goad the minifters to a 
 difcovery of theftatcof the negotiations, and to fhake the 
 public confidence in their inlerns and permanence in office, 
 notice was now given of a motion of enquiry and cenfure 
 by Mr. Patten, orgme, upon this occaiion, of Mr. Wind- 
 ham, and the ex-war-party. Whether by the iorce em- 
 ployed, it was intended to give a mortifying eflimate ol the 
 fuppofed ftrengtli and ability of minifters to refift, cr 
 whether the public were guilty of injufiice towards the 
 abilities and confluence of the honourable gentleman, I 
 am not difpofed to enquire. The motion was often put 
 off, and it was not without fome aftonifhment that the 
 Houfe found it ferioufly brought on for difcuffion, after 
 the return of the King's Ambaf ador, and the publication 
 cf his Majefty's declaration, together with the papers pre- 
 fented by Ids command to both Houfes of Parliament, upon 
 the 1 8th of May. Thofe, however, who had near op- 
 portunities of obierving, waited for this motion with an 
 impatience of curiofity not greater than it deferved, as it 
 was deftined to clear up the long myftery of Mr. Pitt's 
 abfence from his parliamentary duty, to make known his 
 opinion of the ftate of public affairs, and to declare with 
 what effecl his late unfuccefsful negotiation had operated 
 upon his public feelings, principles, and engagements. 
 
 Upon the queftion of the Addrefs* to his Majefty, Mr. 
 Pitt had made his firft appearance in the Houfe of Com- 
 mons during the pfefent parliament. But owing to a ch>- 
 cumftance f of no very great importance, and foreign to 
 the objecl of thefe remarks, the public were but very 
 impcrfeclly in poffeffion of the fentiments he had delivered, 
 
 and 
 
 .* Mi] 23d. f Exclufion of the Reporter?.
 
 n 
 
 3 
 
 and of the ferife in Which they were to be received, a3 
 connected with parties and political obligation.?. In the 
 fpeech which preceded the vote which the right honoura- 
 ble gentleman gave for the Addrefs, a near obferver could 
 not miftake or overlook a very marked coldnefs, and 
 ftudied perfonal indifference towards the minifiers, and the 
 firfi minifter in particular. Not one exprellion of regard> 
 not even the form and habit of his tight hgnourable friendy 
 efcaped the referved and cautious lips of the molt con- 
 stant, active, and ze a lous fupporter of Mr. Ad- 
 dington ! According to the new religion of the party which 
 Mr: Pitt had lately infilled upon bringing back with him 
 into the King's councils, his conicience enabled him to 
 fupport the meafures without commending the men.-— 
 Content, however, for the moment with the effect of his 
 cold, repulfive neutrality; having alarmed one part of his 
 hearers, afflicted another, and perplexed all ; the houfe 
 few him pleafed tO divide with the right honourable gentle- 
 man, whofe credit and influence, not indeed every word 
 that he had uttered* but every tone and gefture he had 
 ufed, had been calculated to difcourage and difcredit ! 
 
 The Addrefs thus actively, conftantly, and zealoufiy 
 fupported, was carried in the Houfe of Commons by a 
 majority of 331, againfl an amendment propofed by Mr. 
 Grey*. 
 
 Upon this occafion it is necc-flary to obferve, that Mr. 
 Fox delivered a Speech of the utmoft eloquence, but ftig- 
 inatized both by Minifiers and by the New Oppolition as 
 fingalarly dangerous, and calculated only to unnerve and 
 relax the fpirit and efforts of the country. The purport 
 of the amendmentf , and of die motive aliened by its fup- 
 
 f porters 
 
 • For the Addrefs, - - 39S 
 
 Agkicit it, , 67 
 
 f In the Houfe of Lords the minor' tj divvied odW ten vp?a a fimtfil 
 amendment, mayed by Lcrd.K,iog,
 
 34 
 
 porters was, that the government had not been fincere in 
 its endeavours to continue the peace. That government 
 which had been uniformly reproached by the New Oppo- 
 sition ; with having aeled tamely, fubmiiTively, and I 
 know not what, in the vain and fanguine hope of pro- 
 longing the peace, was now taxed by the Old Oppolition 
 with never having wifhed to maintain it at all, and with 
 having taken the fmT, and that a needlefs opportunity of 
 breaking it '.! Upon one fide of the Speaker's chair, the 
 minivers heard' themfelves accufed of having caufed the 
 war by their temporizing and fpiritlefs p©licy ; upon tbfc 
 other, by their violence and infincerity. Here, they 
 ought to have declared war for the firfl aggreffion ; there 3 
 not even for the lair. 
 
 It is evident that thefe attacks mull: have fruitrated and 
 difarmed each other, and that no defence could be necef- 
 fary for a fyftem of conducl which was arraigned upon 
 fuch oppofite arid hoftile grounds. The miniiiry had now 
 the fatisfaclion to find themfelves fully poiTeffed of the 
 public confidence and opinion, which always lies between 
 the extremes of contending parties. The war itfelf was an 
 irrefiftible proof that they would not compromife with the 
 honour or efiential interefts of the empire, and the papers 
 which were before the Houfe and the public, evinced, not 
 only the fincereft difpofition to avoid a rupture, but a de- 
 gree of forbearance and moderation, which being accom- 
 panied by great firmnefs and refolution, moil wonderfully 
 coincided with the fentiments and the characlerifiic temper 
 of the people. 
 
 Both Oppoftiohs were now redueed to a very fingular 
 and embarrafhng dKcmroa, for with the weaknefs and de- 
 pendence of minifters had perifhed all the motive of the 
 old and all the obligation of the new to fupport them*. 
 To attack them however was difficult, not merely becaufe 
 it 'yvas flying in the face of public opinion very ftrongly - 
 
 pronounced^
 
 ss 
 
 pronounced, but becaufc they were, in point of fact* 
 forced to combat each other, while the minifters remained 
 invulnerable in the middle. Upon the other hand, the 
 ftill-growing popularity of the minifters was a common 
 grievance, and they were urged by reciprocal intcrefts, to 
 make, before it fliould be too late, feme effort to fliake or 
 to flop it. V/e fhall now fee the effect of thefe councils 
 upon Mr. Patten's mo lion, which (as it often pleafes for- 
 tune to bring forth the greater! effects from the moft tri- 
 fling caufes) was deflined to lay bare the fecret mind of Mr. 
 Pitt, to juftify the fagacity of JVIr. Canning, and to be 
 the laft grand comment upon -ambitious friendfhips and 
 political confidences. 
 
 It will not be expecled of me to fay more of a motion 
 fo recent*, and fo flrcngly engraven upon the public 
 mind, than that Mr. Pitt, not being able in his conjciencc to 
 exculpate tlie minifters of the crimes they were charged 
 with, gave his vote for deferring their arraignment. He 
 propofed that the accufation> and the cenfure and punifh- 
 znent which were to follow it, fliould be left hanging from 
 day to day over their heads, to be renewed and enforced 
 the firft time it fhould pleafe Mr. Patten to pray the judg- 
 ment of the houfe upon thefe unacquitted, uncondemned, 
 but refpited delinquents, to whom his Majefty had con- 
 fided his government, and to whofe guidance the nation 
 looked up for the fole chance of cfcaping from the dread- 
 ful predicament into which it had rdapfed by the perfidy 
 and ambition of the French government. It is painful for 
 me to record that fifty-five members of the Houfe of Com- 
 mons were found of the fame fentiments as Mr. Pitt, and 
 that Mr, Canningf ftill diffented from him as thinking 
 
 F 2 -Tus 
 
 * Mr. Patten's motion concluded with afiVriing, " that by their cenduft 
 the King's minilkrs had proved themfcWes to be unworthy or" the confidence 
 of the Houfe, and unfit to conduct the affairs of the nation." — June 3d. 
 
 f Mr. Canning declared that he (hould give his vote freely and (onfei' 
 t*ti;ujly for the cenfure. 
 
 ■Ui.
 
 36 
 
 his vote too lenient and favourable to Mr. Addington 
 and his colleagues. 
 
 It is here the place for me to fubmit a few reflections, if 
 without any impeachment of the reverence I bear for the 
 talents of Mr. Pitt and the virtues of Mr. Canning, they 
 may be permitted me. They fhall at any rate be fhort and 
 immediately relevant to the fubjecr. Certainly I am not 
 the only perfon (who has had opportunities of obferving), 
 that has afked himfelf what greater degree of hoftility, 
 what fpecies of more aggrefiive and unrelenting opposition, 
 Mr. Pitt and Lord Grenvilie (for they are not to be fe- 
 parated frnce the failure of their negotiation in April), 
 could have exercifed, if minifters, inftead of being the 
 objects of their primary panegyric and recommendation, 
 inftead of having their pledge of fupport, inftead of hav- 
 ing a6ted with vigour and with temper, and inftead of 
 ^eing crowned with fuccefs in the great part of their mea- 
 sures, and with applaufe, even where the crimes of the 
 Trench government had difappointed their endeavours; I 
 fay, in the cafe that Mr. Addington had been the greatefl: 
 enemy Mr. Pitt had ever known, if he had proved the 
 weakeft, moft incapable, unfortunate, and wicked Minifter 
 that had ever exifted, what pofiible afperity, malevolence, 
 and rancour of attack, could he have experienced which 
 he did not now fuftain from the party of his predeceflbr? : 
 who were pledged to give him their zealous, conftant, and 
 sielive fupport? Not that I fufpeel or impugn the motives 
 of Mr. Pitt : it is evident they were imperious, compul- 
 fory, and irrefiftible. 
 
 Who that fees Lord Chatham in the cabinet, which Mr. 
 Patten would impeach, but muft admire the ftern Roman 
 virtue of Mr. Pitt, which could not bend to give a vote 
 
 of 
 
 Mr. Pitt found himfelf in the minority, the votes being, 
 For his motion --- — --. 55 
 Againft it -«---.-•-- 335 
 
 177
 
 37 
 
 of acquittal even to a brother? The country may we'll 
 congratulate itfelf upon pofTeffing fo rigid a patriot in thefe 
 pliant times, when fo many public duties are daily facri- 
 riced to ambition aud connexion i 
 
 I know, indeed, that to Mr. Canning, Mr. Pitt has 
 not appeared to have acted with fufficient cncrgv and cha- 
 racter in this memorable vote. He expected, from the 
 inflexible fortitude of his right honourable friend, that he 
 would have declared for the impeachment of his brother 
 and his friend. — But fuch fe verity was, even by the Bo- 
 mans themfelves, thought above proof, and extreme ; 
 and they gave the diftinct appellation of iVIanlian virtues, 
 Manlian commands, and Maniian duties, to all thofe great 
 acts of felf-devotednefs which were exerted at the expence 
 cf the ties of blood, and the tender relations of private 
 lite. Mr. Canning's indignation has carried him fo far, 
 that he has fcarcely fince made his appearance in the 
 Houfe; but I hope, he will forgive the tveaknejs of his 
 right honourable friend, and return — His infirmity is human. 
 
 Frater eft, Pamphile, difficile eft ; 
 Mr. Addington, too, was the friend of his whole life, 
 from early infancy to the hour at leaft in which he became 
 his fuccefibr, if not to that in which the negotiation broke 
 off! 
 
 The hiftory of parties, has now been brought down to 
 a period, fince which I confefs, that I look upon the at- 
 tachment and deference of the Chancellor of the Exche- 
 quer for Mr. Pitt as a weaknefs, the only one I have dis- 
 covered in his character, and which, as a near obferver, 
 I know I do not mifiake, in attributing to the moft amia- 
 ble and pureft fource. Still it muff be permitted me to 
 doubt, whether, after all that has palled, it be not a very 
 great difcouragement to the real friends of government and 
 of the country, to think they fee too much refpeet and 
 deference for an opinion, which they do not confider to 
 be altogether free from party, and even hoftile views ? 
 ^Nothing can do Mr. Addington more honour, than the 
 
 readinefa
 
 s s 
 
 readinefs I will not call it, but the eagernefs he has always 
 difcoveied to replace Mr. Pitt in the confidence of his So- 
 vereign. I am convinced} that whoever has had an op- 
 portunity of obferving, will believe, that even at this 
 moment he is as ftronglyinclined to comply with every juit 
 and honourable wifh of Mr. Pitt, as he was found to be 
 in the late negotiation. Nor do I blame this difinterefted 
 difpofition. Much, however, as I refpe£t the motive of 
 this conduct, it appears impofiible to approve Its tendency 
 and effect. Firfi of all? becaufe,, as long as Mr. Pitt 
 makes it a fine qua nen, to bring back Lord Grenville with 
 him into the cabinet, I have obfer.ved, that every negotia- 
 tion will fail. There is an obftacle, if appearances are not 
 very deceitful, even higher than Mr. Addington's reluct- 
 ance, who is compelled by honour not to admit into the 
 council with him, a man who has uniformly and undiftin- 
 guifhingly condemned and oppofed every meafure of his 
 administration, not without perfonal incivility and marked 
 difrefpect. 
 
 Secondly, becaufe the parliamentary conducl of Mr. 
 Pitt, (notwithstanding fome vacillation fince the ill-fuccefs 
 of his previous quejlhn) appears decidedly hoftile, and cal- 
 culated in a particular manner to embarrafs the administra- 
 tion of the finances *. I need fear eel y point out the de- 
 bates f upon this fubjeet, in which that right honourable 
 gentleman has taken a part, nor the effect of his interfer- 
 ence, which has been to cut off about a million and a 
 quarter from the refources of the- year i and to raife a cry 
 
 that 
 
 * So early as the 15th of February, Lord Grenville had difputed Lord 
 Auckland's ftatement of the 6nancer, averting, that inflead of a furplus of 
 nine miUions in the revenue, there wai a deficit of four. On the 26th of 
 July, however, the whole of the fix millions and a half furplus of the confo- 
 iidatcd fund were voted for the fupplies of the year, upon the motion of Mr. 
 Addington, in the presence cf Mr. Pitt, who made m cojeElhn to the ft^temenr 
 of the Chancellor cf the Exchequer ; nor has any motion been made by Mr. 
 
 Grcgor, who had given notice. If thefe gentlemen are acting properly z 
 
 frejeni, as I do not deny, how will they juflify their nrevicvt conduct ? 
 
 ■\ July 5th. 13th. 15th.
 
 39 
 
 that the faith of government was violated by including the 
 Stockholder in the income Tax, with every other fpecies 
 of proprietor. Although it is not altogether within the 
 fcope of this difcourfe to difcufs public meafures, yet it is 
 often impoflible to explain the ftate of parties, without 
 fome examination of the queftions which difcover their 
 character and motives. And I am compelled, as a nea:* 
 obferver, to remark upon this occafion, that the arguments 
 of Mr. Pitt did not appear to have fo much weight, as 
 his authority, in obtaining exemptions for tile, indolent 
 capital of the Stock-holder, while every other fpecies o? 
 annual Income is liable to the juft exigency of the State. 
 I do therefore think the deference of government for Mr, 
 Pitt has been prejudicial to the country in this inflance^ in 
 particular ; and it appears to me, that the inconvenience 
 will be fhortly acknowledged when they fhall have to re- 
 place the contribution of the Stock-holder by new taxes 
 upon the generality of other property and confumptioa, 
 Mr. Pitt's complicated propolition.f for taking the aggre- 
 gate of rent, tithes, and poor-rates, as the bafts of the 
 Income-tax, if it was friendly in intention., had the misfor- 
 tune to be delivered in tones of hoftility and defiance, and 
 it muft be fubmitted, whether it be not very difcouraging. 
 ro the real friends of minifters, to hear them told without 
 /eferve by any member of the Houfe, that, * 4 if they are 
 Iioftile to his plans, they fet themfelves againfi: the beft 
 mode of railing the fupplies, &c." Not that any body- 
 has a greater refpecf. for his plans (in the department of re- 
 venue) 
 
 * No perfon can be plainly abfurd enough to contend, that an hundred 
 pounds in a man's pocket is not equally tontributable, v/hetbei he has re- 
 ceived them from his Steward or his Stock-broker. The only queflion there- 
 fore ic, whether it be a breach of faith to take the lax without e.xpence an.i 
 inconvenience at the Bank, inftead of running after the pub'.ic creditor 
 when he has carried his dividend to hi. clofet. This cry, however, of Mr. 
 Pitt's, has cod us one million aad. a quarter fro .11 iht ^ftua] refaprc 
 the war. 
 
 Et dubitamuc aj&BC virtutcni ttfeodeft fifais £■ 
 
 T_Debate, July 15th,
 
 4* 
 
 venue) than myfelf ; but that I cannot conceive why the 
 Houfe or the Minifters are to entertain the fpecies of defer- 
 ence exaeled from them for his plans, without his refpon- 
 fibility ; or in what constitutional point of view it can be 
 pretended, that the members who have lately feen more 
 than a million per anuum furrendered in conformity to 
 his plans, are blindly to confider every man as hoftile to 
 the revenue, who will not vote for his plans, in oppofition 
 to the propofkions of the executive government. 
 
 Nothing, I confefs, would give me more fatisfaclion in 
 this extreme difficulty and moft arduous crifis of our Hate, 
 than to hear Mr. Pitt firmly and zealoufly giving his fup- 
 port to the King's fervants. His financial fkill, his com- 
 manding eloquence, and his ilill great influence in the 
 country, would be a tower of ftrength to his Majefty's 
 government. The public would be well fatij-fied, I have 
 no reafon to doubt, if the right honourable gentleman 
 would accept a feat in the Cabinet ; but it will not endure, 
 I believe, that the prerogative fhould be broken down, or 
 Lis Majefty's free choice and judgment interfered with, by 
 any fpecies of dictation or preliminary condition. It is 
 evident, from experience, that Mr. Pitt cannot force the 
 Grenville's back into power with him. The qUeflion 
 therefore is, whether any private obligations or engage- 
 ments to that party ought to deprive the empire of his fer- 
 •vices at this moment? and whether he has not amply ac- 
 quitted his faith towards them by breaking off the late ne- 
 gotiation ? This point I will not dare to examine, more 
 efpecially becaufe I have not the faculty to difcover what 
 engagements or what bond of honour he can have entered 
 into with thofe gentlemen, more facred, folemn, and invio- 
 lable, than the pledge of f« afiive, zealous, and conflant 
 fupport" he gave to Mr. Addington in February 1801. 
 Neither fhould I expect from the known virtues and dif- 
 intereftednefs of Lord Grenville that he would not be fa- 
 tisfied with the late efforts of Mr. Pitt in his favour, or 
 I'ciufe to icleafc hiaifrom an unprofitable contract* which 
 
 militates
 
 41 
 
 militates with the efTential interests of the empire, v.-hich 
 the great abilities of that Financier are lb well calculated 
 to fuftain. 
 
 If, however, there exift ctrc urn fiances which have es- 
 caped my obfervation, or are fecret and unknown, and it 
 is in point of fact impracticable for Mr. Pitt to take a P.i.ar-e 
 in his Majelty's government, or to give his fervants fin- 
 cere and effectual fupport at this crifis (which were exceed- 
 ingly to be lamented) then I have no fcruple to exprefs my 
 conviction, that the more dire 61: and open .are his hofiiii- 
 ties, and the lefs refpefi and deference are exhibited for his 
 authority, the lefs diftraclion, embairaffmentj and discre- 
 dit, will be in the power of his adherents to create or dif- 
 feminate. It is no* clear, that Air. Pitt will be able to 
 acquit himfelf as the chief of a party with the fame eclat 
 and fuccefs, as in the robes of office. His vote upon 
 J,It. Patten's motion, is generally confidered as a.falfe ftep; 
 its effects have been more fatal to his credit and popula- 
 rity, than any meafure he could have taken ; and are 
 fcarcely lefs injurious to his public character, than his 
 unaccounted-for and unaccountable refignation in jScr. 
 
 He is therefore, by no means as much to be dreaded as 
 
 an opponent, as he is to be defired for a friend. His habits 
 
 and his talents, his paffions, and even his tones and gefturcs, 
 
 are calculated for office and authority- Neither do the 
 
 public at this moment entertain .that unqualified admiration 
 
 of the mere gift of eloquer.ee, as to prefer it to judgment, 
 
 knowledge j firrr.nefsj equanimity, and other qualities ot a 
 
 miniftcr, which they have lately learned to efteem and r._ - 
 
 plaud ; nor can any oppoiitiop be ierioufly formidable as 
 
 long as minifters purfue the fame temperate, but vigorous 
 
 couife, which has enabled them to triumph over every 
 
 •Doffible obflaclc and impediment. * 
 
 c Ccnfidering 
 
 * Sines I am upon this fubjett of oppofition, I cannot refift the tempta- 
 tion of exprefling the ikfire which I have lately entertained, for the transi- 
 tion of Mr. Pitt and his party to the oppofite fiJc of the .- . . A gi^.t 
 
 deal of jperp!cxity arifes 
 
 Armor.* 11
 
 42 
 
 Confidcring indred the circurr\ fiances Gf the ftaie, and 
 the unparalleled danger? which approach us, one would 
 naturally have looked for implicit unanimity? andco ope- 
 ration from every part of the empire. Amongfl the facri- 
 fices we are called upon to make for our defence and pre- 
 fervation, the very foremofl is that of our interefted, un- 
 juft, and ambitious paflions. The firft ofFeiirg upon the 
 altar of our country, fhould be private rivalries, and 
 party-hatreds. To deftroy the confidence of the people 
 in their rulers, in their armies, or in their refources, were 
 the very worft fpecies of treafon. At fuch a time, every 
 man's knowledge, experience, and talent, is the property 
 of the State; there ought to be no fides of the houfe, no 
 oppofition. Can it be endured then to fee all the experi- 
 ence acquired in the public fervice, all the weight and au- 
 thority of pafl office and employment, directed to fpread 
 alarm and difcouragement, or to impede and embarrafs 
 the public fervice ? One thinks one fees altar againfl altar, 
 and government againfl government, when the parts of an 
 oppofition are fo diftributed and fuflained, as that the per- 
 fons, who have been fecretaries at war, oppofe the recruit- 
 ing of the militia; fecretaries of flate, attack ftate papers 
 and negotiations; and chancellors of the exchequer, the 
 
 taxes. 
 
 Armoium facie Sc graiarum errore Jubarum. 
 One cannot accultom one's eavs to hear the meafures of the Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer arraigned or impeded by his fi.tght Honourable Friends behind him. 
 He ought to be able to fee h's opponents and they to look him in the face. 
 Perhapi too, the Speaker himfeif would like a little topographical hint upon 
 •which fide of the Debate thole gentlemen meant to fpeak, for of late they 
 have always -voted with the Miniftcr, and fpoken againlt hWn. This comes 
 very naturally from the new moral doiStrine of " Men, not Meafures j" but 
 I confefs 1 like the old cuftoms heft. Mr. Addington's fnuation is really very 
 dangerous and perplexing, particularly in tre Councils of IVar, where the 
 heavieft battery is often opened upon his rear, and bis flanks are very much 
 expofed to the attack of his honourable Friends, who fight upon his fide againfl 
 i m. In the name of Candour, what have Mr. Pitt find Mr. Canning (o-do 
 L ! ,nd the Treefury Bench f «« A plague on you/ Do you call this backing 
 ' • ..our Friends ?"
 
 43 
 
 taxes*. And when one obferves fenators, and ftatefmen, 
 
 who have fcarce turned their backs on the King's Cabinet, 
 
 oppoiing and contradicting, and thwarting their own mea- 
 
 fures and the principles of their own adminiftration, one 
 
 thinks one beholds a faction more profoundly and eflen- 
 
 tial-ly corrupt and perfidious than there is any mention of 
 
 in the hifiory of nations. 
 
 Thus we fee that after official death, the fame cares and 
 
 employments do notfurvive m the political (hades, as in the 
 
 poetical — We cannot fay, 
 
 ■ Qnx gratia curiam 
 
 Armorumque fuit vivis, quae cura nitentes * 
 
 Pafccre equof, eadem fequitur tellure repoftos; 
 
 but, on the contrary, we find them tormented with remorfe 
 and averfion for all their prior ftudies and purfuits, and 
 haunted with the antipathy of every former paflion and 
 delight. 
 
 I know that I have made ufe of ftrong words, but I 
 know that they are not ftronger than the truth warrants, 
 and the occalion demands. Bat if I feem to any perfon 
 to ufe harfher terms than might have been found, and 
 to brand with more ignominy than is neceffary, the profli- 
 gacy I deplore, I would afk if thefe are times to govern 
 phrafes, to frame fentences, and obferve etiquettes and 
 pun^ilios ! What, when Lord Temple demands places 
 for his famiiyf , (infatiable family !) when his family in- 
 
 G 2 fift 
 
 * It is lingular that even triofe reforms in the nava! departments, wlvoh 
 have been fo much oppofed by the adherents and partizans of the late admi- 
 ralty-board, are its own offspring — that it had prcfented the abufes, frauds, 
 and peculations, and was pledged to bring forward the enquiry. They wer^ 
 fiated, in the adminiftrition of Lord Spencer, to amount to 8 millions an- 
 nually. 
 
 •f- Mr. ThomssGTeDville has not attended for a confiderable time in his 
 place. It isbeneith hie great importance to promote or alien t to a (ingle 
 meal'urefor the defence of his country under minifters not nominated by his 
 family. r-The Army of Reierve, the Bill for the general arming aod train- 
 ing of hisMajedy'i lubjecls, the j,-rcat nuafuics of f.nartce, have all beea 
 
 deprived
 
 44 
 
 fnl: upon naming the King's Minifter ; when Mr. Pitt re- 
 fufes to ferve his Sovereign, unlefs he can force into the 
 cabinet the Grenvilles who are forcing him into it; when 
 Mr. VVindham will only vote proformd for military law 
 and fufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus a el, upon the burfi 
 ot Infer Rebellion, arid the maffacre of the chief criminal 
 judge*; when Mr. Canning avows f that "his oppofi- 
 tion is not to meafures but to men;" that "the men are 
 every thing, and the meafures nothing f when the whole 
 fyftem and anti-principle (if I may hazard fuch a word) 
 of the late adminiftration, is to vilify and difcredit the 
 government, of whofe meafures they dare not but ap- 
 prove ; when Mr. Canning would impeach, and Mr. Pitt 
 would keep impeachment hanging over the heads of thofe 
 minifters, whofe conducl in every individual infiance he has 
 defended or applauded ; when popular and factious cries 
 are adopted to intercept the refources of the exchequer, 
 when the militia is decried and difcredited, not by jacobins 
 and traitors, but by ex-fecretaries at war, and ex-minifters 
 cf the finances ; when difcouragement and defponde/'cy 
 are fpread among the people by great military characters, 
 and we are warned of the capture of the capital, and the 
 furrender of the country ! when I fee the Houfe of Com- 
 mons 
 
 deprived of his affiftance and authority, even of his countenance ! He will 
 not grace the benches of ojpofition when he dares not to oppole. He will not 
 lend even his prelence and neutrality t« the plans for arming the country, 
 doubt lels becaufe it cannot now be laved, by any men but thofe who abandoned 
 it the year before the laft ! 
 
 I am perfuailed, however, that the country will very deeply refent the 
 conduct of every one of its reprefentatives who acls like Mr. T. Grenville.— 
 Thefe abfences are perverle, peevifli, and, perhaps, unconditional : they 
 a£l, however, in a contrary fenletowhat is intended. If ever there were a 
 cale where filence inferred content, it is here: for it cannot be fufpe&ed, 
 that with a poflibility cf oppofmg, we (hould have loft the benefit of Mr. Cren- 
 ville's opinion and eloquence. Were I to hazard a conjecture, it would be 
 this, that the Right Honourable Gentleman is preparing a very alarming 
 fueech for the laft day of the Seflion, a fpeech of iffc£l y which will fend a 
 portion of the Houfe home panic-ftruck, to fpread proper fentiments among 
 their conftituents. 
 
 July ?,8. | rarl. R«g. Dec. 8.
 
 mons tranfmuted into a council of war*, Hull I call it, or 
 a council of alarm, difcouragement, and trepidation [ ^hcn 
 every cry, and every artifice is adopted to difcredit the 
 meafures of government, and deftroy the confidence of the 
 country — I afk if this be a moment to ftop for nice and de- 
 liberate expreffions ? and whether thefe gentlemen are en>- 
 titled to fo much deference from others, who are fo care- 
 lefs of their own character and reputation, as to be not 
 only at variance> but in direcl: hoftility and antitheiis with 
 their own principles and meafures, with their character?;, 
 and their whole lives ? 
 
 The minifters certainly could not be confronted by a 
 minority of more abilities, of more perfonal weight in the 
 country, from connexion and property, and of more in- 
 fluence from the mafs of former obligation, which during 
 feventeen years they have conferred with no fparing hand. 
 The utter want, however, of principle, and even of pre- 
 text for their oppdfition, and the too great confidence in 
 their own talents and importance, which has led to very- 
 extraordinary confeffions, has deprived this party of every- 
 thing which could render it popular or formidable : befides 
 which, I have obferved a very general apprehenfion to 
 prevail in the cafe that they were to be once more entrusted 
 with the guidance of affairs, left upon the approach of any- 
 great danger or calamity which might threaten the country, 
 they fhould again abandon their pofts, with as much preci- 
 pitation as they did in 1801. 
 
 As far as public opinion is concerned, this fentiment mud 
 long be fatal to their return to power, and it may be added, 
 that no fmall proportion of thofe perfpns who moll stre- 
 nuoully fupported them, will never pardon therelignation, 
 becaufe they certainly did give their votes unqualified, and 
 afTented to meafures they did not always approve of, upon 
 
 the 
 
 * With the higheft degree of refpedt and conGderation for Mr. Abbot, I 
 ft venture to fay, as an obfervcr, that it wotild have given fatisucUon, i: 
 he had thought Uimfelf. warranted to interrupt tbefc dif<uffions 4 
 
 Sf.
 
 4& 
 
 the fuppoiitioHj that they had no choice but to (Lengthen 
 a government which they confide red as bound and pledged 
 to abide the fate of the country. Thefe perfons conuder 
 themfelves as having been cheated out of their former fup- 
 port upon falfe pretences, and they will no doubt infift 
 upon a full and fatisfacSlory explanation of the real caufes 
 O: thefe resignations, before they will give their confidence 
 a fecond time. Indeed, what would be the fituation of the 
 country (at this crifis of foreign danger, internal difficulty;, 
 and Irifh Rebellion) under a miniftry whom it would be 
 in the power of the mofr infignificant member of the Houfe 
 to difplace at any moment, by limply bringing forward the 
 Irifh CafhpJisC queftiqn. ? 
 
 I am not aware of more than one cafe in which Mr. Fox 
 and his minority could be contidered as a poflible adminif- 
 tration, and tliat is the fuccefs of the invafion, or fome 
 other great difafrer which fhould lay us at the feet of France* 
 He might, perhaps, be the vice-prefident of the Britannic 
 Republic, but there is little proipect of his ever being the 
 minifler of an Englifh King. 
 
 Of the minifters it will be permitted me to fay, that I 
 think they have hitherto deferved well of the country ; 
 and that they have been called to act under circumfrances 
 in which it was impoflible to have done fo, without pof- 
 fefling great ability, great prudence, and great fortitude. 
 They have certainly had to contend againft thegreateft abi- 
 lity, and as they have not been worried in the conteft, it 
 feems to be but an ill compliment to their enemies to re- 
 proach them with incapability. Such vague and general 
 incivilities (for they are not charges) fhew only ill-tcmpcr 
 and difappointment; and as proof has repeatedly been 
 called for in vain* and there is fo much proof upon the 
 other hand, to perfevere in it argues little fenfibility to the 
 fhame of being refuted. 
 
 The great bufinefs of the country is its defence; and 
 I am very much miftaken if that can be promoted by in- 
 difference to meafures, and partiality to men. I think a 
 
 great
 
 47 
 
 great deal too mucli has been faid about individuals} too 
 much about Mr. Addington and Mr. Pitt- 1 proteft I 
 cannot adopt this novel herefy, and I hope it will never 
 form an article in our political creed. In this fearful crifis 
 of our country, I hope, that we have no other caufe, no 
 intereft but hers ! that we contend not for patrons, but for 
 duties; not for parties, but for the ftate'; and that we all 
 rally round our Sovereign and his minifters, ////lieu- 
 tenants; and his generals, round all who have his confi- 
 dence and commirlion. I am fure this is the faith of the 
 conftitution, and that by this alone we can be fayed ! ! ! 
 
 Avery few words will now bring thefe hafty remarks 
 to a conclufion. The Pitt and Grenville party, with all 
 their experience and ability, and the great fervices which 
 they have fometimes rendered the country, by fome fata- 
 lity or other have never underftood its character nor en- 
 joyed its affection. 
 
 Hiftory does not fh.ew fo grofs an inflance of credulous 
 felf-love and infatuated vanity, as the opinion they daily 
 manifeft, that their abfence from the King's councils is re- 
 gretted by the public; that the people delive their return 
 to power ; that the King has made an unpopular ufe of 
 his prerogative in the prefent fele£tion of his counfellors! 
 
 I am far from denying the talents or the virtues of their 
 Houfe; I do not even vindicate the country from fome 
 degree of ingratitude; but, as truth, I am compelled to 
 acknowledge that they never were beloved nor endeared to 
 it. Like the Claudian Family in Rome, (than which none 
 was more fruitful of great and celebrated men) they do 
 not coalefce and affimilate with the genius and temper of 
 their country.. To the catalogue of all their merits, and 
 the praifes to which they have an undoubted claim, we 
 muft add 
 
 Nifi in Libera Civitate nati eflent. 
 
 The prefent miniflers, I think, have this advantage, 
 this happinefs, over them, that they fall in with the cha- 
 racter Of the nation. I diftinguifh nothing perfonal in 
 their fway ; the men are not vifiblc in the aels of their 
 
 authority;
 
 4 8 
 
 •authority ; they feem to be the fervants, not the matters 
 of the public ; the nation governs iffe'f more under them> 
 and for them. Convinced, perfuaded, and prepared, the 
 people demand thofe laws and meafurcs which ufed to be 
 impofed upon them; they require thofe levies and taxes 
 which were fo lately felt as burthens and hardfhips. They 
 identify themfelves with a government which confides in 
 them. The late miniftry w r ere often urged by their moft 
 flrenuous fupporters to place more reliance upon the peo- 
 ple, but they never, as I have obferved, underftood their 
 character, their temper, or their fpirit. One of the firft 
 acts of their fucceflbrs was, to reftore the Habeas Corpus 
 Act, and to repeal the Bills againft Sedition. The trials 
 of Defpard and his accomplices were conducted in the or- 
 dinary courfe, like fimple felonies, without alarm, with- 
 out fecret committees, without demonftrations of jealoufy 
 and miftruir. They now reap the fruit of their temper or 
 their policy, for I have little fcruple to affert, that with- 
 out an appearance of force or power, without the reluc- 
 tance of a Tingle fubjecr, by the confidence and affection 
 of the people alone, they have been able to carry the 
 greater! meafures, of which there is either record or tra- 
 dition in the hiftory of the empire. 
 
 Upon the 18th of May, Lord Whitworth's return from 
 Paris was announced to parliament.— Little more than 
 two months have elapfed, and the Militia, the Supple- 
 mentary Militia, the Army of Referve, amounting toge- 
 ther to one hundred and fixty thoufand men, have been 
 added to the regiments of the line, and a Bill has received 
 the Royal affent for arming the whole population of the 
 ifiand. It is true, Mr. Pitt and the Grenvilles think a 
 great deal more might have been done and a great deal 
 quicker — quicker than two months; wore than all. — But 
 this is the characteristic failing and misfortune of their 
 family. For they would have had it their meafure, and 
 not the nations; it would have been called their act, and 
 now it is the people's ! For effect, and greatnefs, all mu$ 
 have been voted at once, the operation of each impeded 
 
 by
 
 49 
 
 by the others, and the whole impofed as lav.- and autho- 
 rity, blamed, eluded, or refilled. I cannot think that an 
 act of legiflation can create a public fphit; but fuch an 
 act as the general levy of the population of an empire, if 
 it precede a public fpirit, were a dangerous infurre<?ion, 
 the immediate precurfor and in ft rum en t of its fall. As to 
 the reproach of tardinefs, therefore, it can have no other 
 ' fource than ignorance, or detraction; ignorance profound 
 and pitiable, if its authors think the Minifters could have 
 brought in the bill till the people called for it; rancorous 
 and bafe detraction, if they have the iVnalleft knowledge 
 of the hiftoTy of men, or the molt common rudiments of 
 the fcience of government. 
 
 I have now completed a mo ft ungracious and unplea- 
 fant tafk, to which I have fubmitted only from a fenfe of 
 public duty, and a defire to render fome fervice to the 
 country. Paities are the natural difeafe of a free and 
 popular conftitution; and in mixed governments, they 
 are perhaps necefTary to reprefent and defend the refpec- 
 tive powers and principles of the fyftein. 
 
 This at leaft is their true ufe and action; and thus ap- 
 plied, their collificns have often produced thefe faliuary 
 crifises, which have renovated 2nd invigorated States, 
 forcing them back, as it were, to the fountains of their 
 profperity, and to the principles and aufpiees frcm which 
 they departed. It were a vain parade of learning to enu- 
 merate t! ofe parties, which representing and struggling for 
 a particular principle of government, the rights of a fa- 
 mily, or the dogmas of religion, have filled t. ; .e pages of 
 hiftory with great and intercfting u an factions — the annals 
 of our country abound with inftances which we cannot 
 always call to mind without fcrrow and confufion ; but 
 never till the prefent monunt, did a party arife without 
 the pretence at leaft, of fome public principle and fome 
 national object, to dignify or difguife it. (C The church 
 was in danger;" " the fuccefficn v . ;'' c < the 
 
 conftitution was invaded }" kC a war was wanton and un- 
 necefiaryj" but fome pretence, fome decent ftired of hy- 
 
 H pocrify
 
 5° 
 
 pocrify has ever hitherto been fpread over the nakednefs of 
 ambition. — It remained for our own times to rirefent the 
 Jpeelacie of a family 'Compact, and a combination of 
 wealth and influence, openly claiming the fnft offices of 
 the State as their right, inlifting upon nominating each 
 other in their turn tor the King's Cabinet, and profeffing 
 their difregard of meafurcs and their attachments and an- 
 tipathy to men. 
 
 Certainly I have nothing exaggerated, I have fet down 
 nothing in malice. But 1 do deeply feel and tremble at 
 the profligacy I am defcribing. When 1 conlider the ftate 
 of the empire, and the imminent perils which threaten 
 our exiflence, I think a fcramble for place is little diffe- 
 rent from the pillage of a' wreck; and to embarrafs or de- 
 fert the common fafety and defence for private objects of 
 avarice and ambition, appears the fouleft acl: of Treafon 
 and Parricide which can be committed, 
 
 I confefs I think his Majefly's Miniflers have a right to 
 all our fupport, co-operation, and afliftance. I fhould 
 not dare, for light and trivial motives, at this terrible hour, 
 to encreafe their difficulties, diminifh their credit, or fhake 
 the confidence of the people; I do not know that one 
 ought to bring forward ferious caufes of complaint (if ,they 
 exifted/ at a time when unanimity alone can preferve the 
 empire. I confider them abftracledly as the King's fer- 
 vants : faithful, able, vigorous, and fortunate, they have 
 hitherto proved, and, I truft, will continue. But at 
 all events, under them we muft fight for all that is dear 
 and facred to humanity. By their fide we fhall conquer 
 or lie down. I think there is no other party for us to 
 take, and I am furc there is no duty more imperious and 
 binding. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Oa. *5tb, 1803.
 
 PUBLICATIONS 
 
 RELATIVE TO 
 
 IRELAND, 
 
 PROPER TO BE READ AT THIS JUNCTURE, 
 
 TO BE HAD OF 
 
 J. MILLIKEN, 32, GRAFTON-STREET. 
 
 i An Irifh Catholic's Advice to his Brethren, j. •', 
 how to eilimate their prefer] t Situation, and 
 repci French Invafion, Civil Wars, and 
 Slavery, by Denys Scully, Efq; Barrifter 
 at Law i with a Preface, Notes and Ap- 
 pendix ----------- 2r z 
 
 % An Anjwer to the Addrefs of the Right Hon. 
 Henry Grattan, Ex-Reprefentative for the 
 City of Dublin in Parliament, by P. 
 Duigenan, L. L. D. 4th Edition, with an 
 
 Appendix --------- - 4 4 
 
 3 A Fair Reprefentation of the prefcnt Political 
 
 State of Ireland, by P. Duigenan, L. L. D. 4 4 
 
 4 Speeches delivered in the Houfe of Lords 
 
 of Ireland, by John Earl of Clare, Lord 
 High Chancellor, viz. his Speech on the 
 fecond reading of the Bill for the Relief of 
 the Roman Catholics ; alfo, Mr. Fofter's 
 Speech on the fame Subje6r_ in the Houfe of 
 Commons, March 13, 1793; Speecli on a 
 Motion made by the Earl of Moira, for the 
 
 Adoption
 
 PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Adoption of Conciliatory Meafures with s. 
 Ireland, February 19, 1798; Speech for 
 taking his Majefty's Meffage into Confide ra- 
 tion for a Legillative Union between Great 
 Britain and Ireland, Feb. 10, 1800 - 5 
 
 5 Memoirs of the different Rebellions in Ire- 
 
 land, particularly that of 1798; with an 
 Appendix, containing a Number of Original 
 Papers, with Maps, Plans, and perfpeefive 
 Views, by Sir Richard Mfugrave, Bart. 
 2 Vols. 3d Edition, in Boards - - - - i3 
 
 6 Irish Purfuits of Literature for 1798 and 
 
 1799, confiding of Tranflations — Second 
 Thoughts, or Rival Tranflations — Mon- 
 ftrous Republic, &c. -------6 
 
 7 Confiderations on the State to which Ireland 
 
 has been reduced by the Government of 
 Lord Camden --------- 1 
 
 8 An Impartial Relation of the Events which 
 
 took place in Ireland, in confequcnce of 
 the landing of a Body of French Troops at 
 Killala, in Augult, 1798; with a Map, 
 Pnewing the March of the Army under 
 Lord Cornwallis --------2 
 
 9 A Narrative of the Sufferings and Efcape of 
 
 Charles Jackfon, late a Refident of Wex- 
 ford, including an Account, by way of 
 Journal, of feveral barbarous Atrocities 
 committed in June, 1798, by the Rebels in 
 that Town ---------- 1 
 
 10 EiTays on the Political Circumfianccs of 
 Ireland, written during the Adminiftration of 
 Lord Camden, by Alexander Knox, Efq; 4
 
 AA 000 564 026 3